The Economic Burden of Depression in the United States: how did it Change Between 1990 and 2000?

This article provides a 10-year update of estimates of the economic burden of depression. Using a human capital approach, the authors developed prevalence-based estimates of 3 major cost categories: 1) direct costs; 2) mortality costs arising from depression-related suicides, & 3) costs associated with depression in the workplace. The total economic burden of illness was estimated to be $83.1 billion in 2000, $5.4 billion (7%) of which were suicide-related. (75 refs)