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Depression and disability pension in Finland
J K Salminen1, S Saarijärvi, R Raitasalo
1Social Insurance Institution, Research and Development Unit, Turku, Finland.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Disability pensions for affective disorders in Finland tripled from 1987-1994. This study investigates why patient functional capacity declined despite new treatments, possibly due to economic recession or diagnostic changes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- A significant increase in disability pensions for affective disorders was observed in Finland between 1987 and 1994.
- This rise coincided with a severe economic recession, shifts in diagnostic criteria, and improved recognition of affective disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the reasons behind the marked deterioration in functional capacity among depressive patients during the specified period.
- To understand why disability pensions increased despite advancements in pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for depression.
Main Methods:
- This study is primarily observational and analytical, examining trends in disability pension awards.
- It reviews potential contributing factors such as economic conditions, diagnostic practices, and treatment availability.
Main Results:
- Disability pensions for affective disorders showed a threefold increase in Finland from 1987 to 1994.
- Patient functional capacity appears to have declined over the same period.
Conclusions:
- The increase in disability pensions for affective disorders is linked to a complex interplay of economic, diagnostic, and recognition factors.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the reasons for declining functional capacity in depressive patients despite treatment advancements.