An Economic Rationale for Treating Depression Effectively
By Dr Daniela Solomon
PhD Health Economics
MScMed genetics
BSc genetics
Trial manager and research assistant, Black Dog Institute
Not only does depression have a negative impact on overall quality of life, productivity, and earlier life roles (e.g. educational attainment), but it also has a detrimental impact on later life, such as increased days out of life roles, job loss, and diminished financial success.
Studies have shown that early onset depression lowers expected future earnings by between 12 and 18 percent. In one study, elevated CES-D scores reduced the probability of labour force participation or full-time employment by 9 and 13% respectively. With respect to suicidality, suicide attempt is associated with reduced income in men of 16.2% and 12.5% in women, and suicide ideation by 6.2 and 11.3%.
Regardless of the underlying causes, suicide thoughts and attempts may have negative consequences for school and labour market outcomes through multiple channels and are therefore important to study. From a societal perspective, the pay-off for interventions such as suicide prevention exceeds a multiple of 10 (that is, for every dollar spent more than $10 in benefit arises).
Transformative research studies at the BDI and elsewhere hope to help address all this by improving treatment and access to care for mental disorders through affordable and cost-effective innovations. That’s where e-mental health fits in. It hopes to reach people who would not otherwise be reached by mental health interventions and reduce the economic as well as the human cost of their suffering.
Gerhard is a full professor of Clinical Psychology at Linköping University, Sweden since 2003, an
d affiliated researcher at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Professor Andersson is an internationally recognized researcher in the field of CBT delivered through information and communication technology, as well as the author of the book “The Internet and CBT: a clinical guide”.
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