often overlooked that in 10% of cases, patients with psychosomatic or chronic somatic illnesses also suffer from depression. Depressive disorder is present in approximately 15% of non-surgical and surgical hospital cases. This figure rises to 30-35% in the case of patients suffering from neurological disorders.3
The cost of treating mental illness
In 1995, approximately 1% of all registered hospital cases were attributed to depressive disorders. The cost of this in-patient treatment is estimated at 2 billion DM per year. Individuals with depression represented 3.3% of the 900,973 rehabilitation treatments paid for by pension insurance.4
Incapacity to work leads to absenteeism and ensuing loss of resources. In 1994, 2.32 million working years were lost through absenteeism. Men accounted for 1.28 million or 55.3% of absences caused by illness and women 1.03 million or 44.7%. It is difficult; however, to determine the number of working years lost through depression because the statistics are not differentiated.
In Germany, there is no adequate database for determining exact sickness costs, but some studies provide indications. Both direct and indirect costs of medical treatment, such as production losses due to absenteeism, should be included in calculations. For 1997, based on statistics for employed persons (excluding self-employed) and the gross income from employment, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined an annual volume of 89.5 billion DM in production lost because of absenteeism related to illness. According to this estimate, mental health disorders account for costs of 5.2 billion DM.
