Skip to main content
Top
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 1/2007

01-03-2007 | Original paper

Resource use and costs associated with patients treated for depression in primary care

Authors: P. Sobocki, M. Ekman, H. Ågren, I. Krakau, B. Runeson, B. Mårtensson, B. Jönsson

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 1/2007

Login to get access

Abstract

We investigated medical resource consumption, productivity loss and costs associated with patients treated with antidepressants for depression in primary care in Sweden. Patients on treatment for depression were followed naturalistically for six months, and data on patients’ characteristics, daily activity and resource-use were collected. The total cost per patient was estimated at € 5,500 (95%CI € 5,000—6,100) over six months in 2005 prices. Direct costs were estimated at € 1,900 (€ 1,700–2,200), 35% of total costs, and indirect costs at € 3,600 (€ 3,100–4,100), 65% of total costs. The cost for antidepressants represented only 4% of the total costs. We conclude that the burden of depression is high, both to the individual as well as to wider society, and there seems to be a particular need for therapies that have the potential to improve productivity in depressed patients.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Simon, G.E., Chisholm, D., Treglia, M., Bushnell, D.: Course of depression, health services costs, and work productivity in an international primary care study. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 24, 328–335 (2002)CrossRef Simon, G.E., Chisholm, D., Treglia, M., Bushnell, D.: Course of depression, health services costs, and work productivity in an international primary care study. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 24, 328–335 (2002)CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Andlin-Sobocki, P., Wittchen, H.U.: Cost of affective disorders in Europe. Eur. J. Neurol. 12(Suppl 1), 34–38 (2005) Andlin-Sobocki, P., Wittchen, H.U.: Cost of affective disorders in Europe. Eur. J. Neurol. 12(Suppl 1), 34–38 (2005)
3.
go back to reference Simon, G.E., Revicki, D., Heiligenstein, J., Grothaus, L., Von Korff, M., Katon, W.J., Hylan, T.R.: Recovery from depression, work productivity, and health care costs among primary care patients. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 22, 153–162 (2000)CrossRef Simon, G.E., Revicki, D., Heiligenstein, J., Grothaus, L., Von Korff, M., Katon, W.J., Hylan, T.R.: Recovery from depression, work productivity, and health care costs among primary care patients. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 22, 153–162 (2000)CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Guy, W.: ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. National Institute of Mental Health, Rockeville (1976) Guy, W.: ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology. National Institute of Mental Health, Rockeville (1976)
5.
go back to reference Hodgson, T.A., Meiners, M.R.: Cost-of-illness methodology: a guide to current practices and procedures. Milbank Meml. Fund. Q. Health Soc. 60, 429–462 (1982)CrossRef Hodgson, T.A., Meiners, M.R.: Cost-of-illness methodology: a guide to current practices and procedures. Milbank Meml. Fund. Q. Health Soc. 60, 429–462 (1982)CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Wackerly, D.D., Mendenhall, W., Schaeffer, R.L.: Mathematical statistics with applications. Duxbury, Belmont (1996) Wackerly, D.D., Mendenhall, W., Schaeffer, R.L.: Mathematical statistics with applications. Duxbury, Belmont (1996)
7.
go back to reference Briggs, A., Gray, A.: Handling uncertainty when performing economic evaluation of health care interventions. Health Technol. Assess. 3, 35–60 (1999) Briggs, A., Gray, A.: Handling uncertainty when performing economic evaluation of health care interventions. Health Technol. Assess. 3, 35–60 (1999)
8.
go back to reference Gujarati, D.: Basic Econometrics. McGraw Hill, Singapore (1995) Gujarati, D.: Basic Econometrics. McGraw Hill, Singapore (1995)
9.
go back to reference Salize, H.J., Stamm, K., Schubert, M., Bergmann, F., Harter, M., Berger, M., Gaebel, W., Schneider, F.: Cost of care for depressive disorders in primary and specialized care in Germany. Psychiatr. Prax. 31, 147–156 (2004) Salize, H.J., Stamm, K., Schubert, M., Bergmann, F., Harter, M., Berger, M., Gaebel, W., Schneider, F.: Cost of care for depressive disorders in primary and specialized care in Germany. Psychiatr. Prax. 31, 147–156 (2004)
10.
go back to reference Luber, M.P., Hollenberg, J.P., Williams-Russo, P., DiDomenico, T.N., Meyers, B.S., Alexopoulos, G.S., Charlson, M.E.: Diagnosis, treatment, comorbidity, and resource utilization of depressed patients in a general medical practice. Int. J. Psychiatr. Med. 30, 1–13 (2000)CrossRef Luber, M.P., Hollenberg, J.P., Williams-Russo, P., DiDomenico, T.N., Meyers, B.S., Alexopoulos, G.S., Charlson, M.E.: Diagnosis, treatment, comorbidity, and resource utilization of depressed patients in a general medical practice. Int. J. Psychiatr. Med. 30, 1–13 (2000)CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Revicki, D.A., Simon, G.E., Chan, K., Katon, W., Heiligenstein, J.: Depression, health-related quality of life, and medical cost outcomes of receiving recommended levels of antidepressant treatment. J. Fam. Pract. 47, 446–452 (1998) Revicki, D.A., Simon, G.E., Chan, K., Katon, W., Heiligenstein, J.: Depression, health-related quality of life, and medical cost outcomes of receiving recommended levels of antidepressant treatment. J. Fam. Pract. 47, 446–452 (1998)
12.
go back to reference Von Knorring, L., Åkerblad, A.C., Bengtsson, F., Carlsson, Å., Ekselius, L.: Cost of depression: effect of adherence and treatment response. Eur. Psychiatry 21(6):349–354 (2006)CrossRef Von Knorring, L., Åkerblad, A.C., Bengtsson, F., Carlsson, Å., Ekselius, L.: Cost of depression: effect of adherence and treatment response. Eur. Psychiatry 21(6):349–354 (2006)CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Norinder, A., Nordling, S., Haggstrom, L.: Treatment of depression and cost efficiency. The cost of a tablet is a poor indicator seen from a socioeconomic perspective. Lakartidningen 97, 1693–1698, 1700 (2000) Norinder, A., Nordling, S., Haggstrom, L.: Treatment of depression and cost efficiency. The cost of a tablet is a poor indicator seen from a socioeconomic perspective. Lakartidningen 97, 1693–1698, 1700 (2000)
14.
go back to reference Henriksson, F., Jönsson, B.: Hälsoekonomiska aspekter på depressionssjukdomen. In: SBU (ed.) Behandling av depressionssjukdomar. En systematisk litteraturöversikt. SBU, Stockholm, pp 403–436 (2004) Henriksson, F., Jönsson, B.: Hälsoekonomiska aspekter på depressionssjukdomen. In: SBU (ed.) Behandling av depressionssjukdomar. En systematisk litteraturöversikt. SBU, Stockholm, pp 403–436 (2004)
15.
go back to reference Greenberg, P.E., Kessler, R.C., Birnbaum, H.G., Leong, S.A., Lowe, S.W., Berglund, P.A., Corey-Lisle, P.K.: The economic burden of depression in the United States: how did it change between 1990 and 2000? J. Clin. Psychiatry 64, 1465–1475 (2003)CrossRef Greenberg, P.E., Kessler, R.C., Birnbaum, H.G., Leong, S.A., Lowe, S.W., Berglund, P.A., Corey-Lisle, P.K.: The economic burden of depression in the United States: how did it change between 1990 and 2000? J. Clin. Psychiatry 64, 1465–1475 (2003)CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Peveler, R., Kendrick, T., Buxton, M., Longworth, L., Baldwin, D., Moore, M., Chatwin, J., Goddard, J., Thornett, A., Smith, H., Campbell, M., Thompson, C.: A randomised controlled trial to compare the cost-effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and lofepramine. Health Technol. Assess. 9, 1–134, iii (2005) Peveler, R., Kendrick, T., Buxton, M., Longworth, L., Baldwin, D., Moore, M., Chatwin, J., Goddard, J., Thornett, A., Smith, H., Campbell, M., Thompson, C.: A randomised controlled trial to compare the cost-effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and lofepramine. Health Technol. Assess. 9, 1–134, iii (2005)
17.
go back to reference Rice, D.P., Miller, L.S.: The economic burden of affective disorders. Br. J. Psychiatry Suppl 27, 34–42 (1995) Rice, D.P., Miller, L.S.: The economic burden of affective disorders. Br. J. Psychiatry Suppl 27, 34–42 (1995)
18.
go back to reference Thomas, C.M., Morris, S.: Cost of depression among adults in England in 2000. Br. J. Psychiatry 183, 514–519 (2003)CrossRef Thomas, C.M., Morris, S.: Cost of depression among adults in England in 2000. Br. J. Psychiatry 183, 514–519 (2003)CrossRef
19.
go back to reference Isacsson, G.: Suicide prevention—a medical breakthrough? Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 102, 113–117 (2000)CrossRef Isacsson, G.: Suicide prevention—a medical breakthrough? Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 102, 113–117 (2000)CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Runeson, B., Wasserman, D.: Management of suicide attempters: what are the routines and the costs? Acta. Psychiatr. Scand. 90, 222–228 (1994)CrossRef Runeson, B., Wasserman, D.: Management of suicide attempters: what are the routines and the costs? Acta. Psychiatr. Scand. 90, 222–228 (1994)CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Greenberg, P.F., Stiglin, L.E., Finkelstein, S.N., Berndt, E.R.: The economic burden of depression in 1990. J. Clin. Psychiatry 54, 405–418 (1993) Greenberg, P.F., Stiglin, L.E., Finkelstein, S.N., Berndt, E.R.: The economic burden of depression in 1990. J. Clin. Psychiatry 54, 405–418 (1993)
22.
go back to reference Chisholm, D., Diehr, P., Knapp, M., Patrick, D., Treglia, M., Simon, G.: Depression status, medical comorbidity and resource costs. Evidence from an international study of major depression in primary care (LIDO). Br. J. Psychiatry 183, 121–131 (2003)CrossRef Chisholm, D., Diehr, P., Knapp, M., Patrick, D., Treglia, M., Simon, G.: Depression status, medical comorbidity and resource costs. Evidence from an international study of major depression in primary care (LIDO). Br. J. Psychiatry 183, 121–131 (2003)CrossRef
23.
go back to reference Simon, G.E., Barber, C., Birnbaum, H.G., Frank, R.G., Greenberg, P.E., Rose, R.M., Wang, P.S., Kessler, R.C.: Depression and work productivity: the comparative costs of treatment versus nontreatment. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 43, 2–9 (2001)CrossRef Simon, G.E., Barber, C., Birnbaum, H.G., Frank, R.G., Greenberg, P.E., Rose, R.M., Wang, P.S., Kessler, R.C.: Depression and work productivity: the comparative costs of treatment versus nontreatment. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 43, 2–9 (2001)CrossRef
24.
go back to reference Simon, G.E., VonKorff, M.: Recognition, management, and outcomes of depression in primary care. Arch. Fam. Med. 4, 99–105 (1995)CrossRef Simon, G.E., VonKorff, M.: Recognition, management, and outcomes of depression in primary care. Arch. Fam. Med. 4, 99–105 (1995)CrossRef
25.
go back to reference Bingefors, K., Isacson, D., Knorring, L.V., Smedby, B., Wicknertz, K.: Antidepressant-treated patients in ambulatory care. Mortality during a nine-year period after first treatment. Br. J. Psychiatry 169, 647–654 (1996)CrossRef Bingefors, K., Isacson, D., Knorring, L.V., Smedby, B., Wicknertz, K.: Antidepressant-treated patients in ambulatory care. Mortality during a nine-year period after first treatment. Br. J. Psychiatry 169, 647–654 (1996)CrossRef
26.
go back to reference Sobocki, P., Jonsson, B., Angst, J., Rehnberg, C.: Cost of depression in Europe. J. Ment. Health Policy Econ. 9(2), 87–98 (2006) Sobocki, P., Jonsson, B., Angst, J., Rehnberg, C.: Cost of depression in Europe. J. Ment. Health Policy Econ. 9(2), 87–98 (2006)
Metadata
Title
Resource use and costs associated with patients treated for depression in primary care
Authors
P. Sobocki
M. Ekman
H. Ågren
I. Krakau
B. Runeson
B. Mårtensson
B. Jönsson
Publication date
01-03-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-006-0008-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2007

The European Journal of Health Economics 1/2007 Go to the issue