Untreated depression is expensive. A recent study has found that depressed individuals cost the nation $44 billion a year in lost productivity. People without depression cost the nation about one-quarter that amount. In addition to spending time away from work, people who are depressed seem to work less efficiently even when they are in the office.
Walter Stewart, Ph.D., from the Outcomes Research Institute in Danville, Pennsylvania, found that people with depression are more likely away from work or health-related issues than non-depressed individuals, 5.6 hours a week and 1.5 hours respectively.
Stewart finds that missing a few hours of work each week is not the biggest reason for a drop in productivity. He notes that 81 percent of the loss is due to depressed workers not being at their best on the job.
The study confirmed previous research, which has found women are more likely to develop depression than men. According to the study, the disease afflicts about 1.6 percent of men and 5.3 percent of women. Those with higher levels of education and bigger paychecks were less likely to be depressed. Over the last year, less than 30 percent of those suffering depression reported taking antidepressants.
