Untreated depression is costing the United States billions in lost productivity, a new study reveals. Researchers found that individuals with depression are responsible for $44 billion in lost work output each year. In contrast, people without depression contribute only about a quarter of that amount.
The study, led by Dr. Walter Stewart from the Outcomes Research Institute in Danville, Pennsylvania, shows that those with depression miss an average of 5.6 hours of work per week due to health-related issues, compared to just 1.5 hours for those without depression. However, the biggest productivity loss comes from workers who are present but not functioning at their best. Dr. Stewart’s research indicates that 81 percent of productivity loss is due to reduced efficiency among depressed workers.
The study also highlights the higher prevalence of depression in women compared to men, with 5.3 percent of women affected versus 1.6 percent of men. Those with higher education levels and better salaries are less likely to experience depression. Despite the high rates of depression, less than 30 percent of those affected have sought treatment with antidepressants over the past year.
The findings, based on a national survey of 3,351 individuals, were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which recently released a special issue on depression.
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