The cost of depression - a cost analysis from a large database

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Depression represents a substantial economic burden.
• A cost-of-illness study was conducted to identify depression-specific expenditures.
• Data from a German health insurance company was utilized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the economic impact of depression.
• To identify cost drivers unique to depression.
• To analyze factors influencing depression-related healthcare costs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of claims data from 2007-2009 for continuously insured adults.
• Calculation of costs including inpatient, outpatient, drug, and psychiatric services.
• Longitudinal analysis using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to identify predictors of cost.

Main Results:

• Mean annual depression-specific costs were €458.9 per person.
• Inpatient care constituted the largest cost component (43.9%).
• Severe disease course, unemployment, gender, age, urban residency, and diagnosis type significantly impacted costs.

Conclusions:

• Effective treatment is crucial to prevent disease progression and mitigate rising costs.
• Limitations include potential underestimation of total costs and lack of a control group.