Health care costs of depression in primary care patients in The Netherlands

Background. Depression is highly prevalent in Western countries and is associated with increased health care costs. Most depressed patients are treated in primary care. Objective. To estimate the resource use and costs of depressed patients treated in primary care in comparison with matched controls. Methods. Data from an electronic medical record system of 20 general practices in The Netherlands for the years 2002–04 were used. A patient was considered depressed when having a diagnosis of depression and either a prescription for antidepressants or a referral to mental health care. Matching wa... Mehr ...