@article{ref1,
title="Economic costs of depression in China",
journal="Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology",
year="2007",
author="Hu, Teh-wei and He, Yaping and Zhang, Ming and Chen, Ningshan",
volume="42",
number="2",
pages="110-116",
abstract="BACKGROUND: A recent survey in China indicated the 12-month prevalence rate of depressive disorders was 2.5% in Beijing and 1.7% in Shanghai. These disorders may result in disability, premature death, and severe suffering of those affected and their families. AIMS: This study estimates the economic consequences of depressive disorders in China. METHODS: Depressive disorders can have both direct and indirect costs. To obtain direct costs, the research team interviewed 505 patients with depressive disorders and their caregivers in eight clinics/hospitals in five cities in China. Depression-related suicide rates were obtained from published literature. The human capital approach was used to estimate indirect costs. Epidemiological data were taken from available literature. RESULTS: The total estimated cost of depression in China is 51,370 million Renminbi (RMB) (or US $6,264 million) at 2002 prices. Direct costs were 8,090 million RMB (or US$ 986 million), about 16% of the total cost of depression. Indirect costs were 43,280 million RMB (or US$ 5,278 million), about 84% of the total cost of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is a very costly disorder in China. The application of an effective treatment-reducing the length of depressive episodes (or preventing episodes) and reducing suicide rates-will lead to a significant reduction in the total burden resulting from depressive disorders. Government policymakers should seriously consider further investments in mental health services.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0933-7954",
doi="10.1007/s00127-006-0151-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0151-2"
}