The Social Cost of Major Depression. A Systematic Review

Major depression (MD) is a major cause of disability and a significant public health problem due to strong physical and mental impairment, possible complications for patients (including suicides), serious social and working problems to the patient and his/her family. We provide an overview of the social cost of Major depression worldwide. We conducted a systematic literature review. Two search engines were queried. Screening of records and summary of evidence was performed by two researchers blindly. The review was conducted in accordance with the standards of the PRISMA guidelines.

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Despite the heterogeneity in terms of population, setting and estimation techniques, the studies showed that the largest share of the burden of disease is represented by indirect costs. Among direct healthcare costs, inpatient care represents the most significant item, followed by outpatient care. The average total direct cost of depression ranges between €508 and €24 069, depending on the jurisdiction where the analysis was run and the range of cost items included. Indirect costs range between €1963 and €27 364.

Evidence on the cost of MD in some countries is currently lacking. A deeper understanding of the drivers of the economic burden of disease is a crucial starting point for studies concerned with the cost-effectiveness of new treatment strategies.