Productivity losses among treated depressed patients relative to healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
Estimate the productivity-related cost of depression in an employed population.


METHODS
By using administrative data, annual short-term disability (STD) and absenteeism costs ($2005) were compared for patients with depression and treated with antidepressants and for a matched control group without depression.


RESULTS
Mean annual STD costs were $1038 among treated depressed patients versus $325 among controls and $1685 among a subgroup of severely depressed treated patients versus $340 among their controls. After controlling for demographic and employment characteristics, treated patients with depression had STD costs that were $356 higher per patient and those with severe depression had costs that were $861 higher. The marginal impact of treated depression on absenteeism was $377.


CONCLUSIONS
Even when depressed patients are treated with antidepressants, there are substantial productivity losses. Therapies that can better manage depression may provide opportunities for savings to employers.
Curkendall
Suellen
S
Thomson Reuters, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20008, USA. suellen.curkendall@thomsonreuters.com
Ruiz
Kimberly M
KM
Joish
Vijay
V
Mark
Tami L
TL
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004526:Efficiency; D017049:Employer Health Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014481:United States
D000928:Antidepressive Agents