Depression frequently causes unemployment , absenteeism , and presenteeism , which results in significantly reduced productivity .
Improving patients ' compliance with their antidepressant medication results in improved outcomes and prolongs remission from depression , increasing work productivity , and thus reducing overall costs .
The implementation of remote enhanced-care programs may improve compliance and reduce overall costs .
In conclusion , depression is a common disorder with a high economic impact .
Enhanced-care programs may lower costs associated with depression and improve patients ' lives
This systematic review examines the economic and human costs of depression and the potential savings associated with improvement in patient adherence to treatment with antidepressants through the use of enhanced-care programs .
Response, remission and relapse in relation to adherence in primary care treatment of depression: a 2-year outcome study
Non-adherence to antidepressant drug treatment is common . In a recent study in depressed primary care patients , we reported a strong relationship between adherence and response after 6 months . With the use of a naturalistic design , the patients in that study were prospect ively followed for 2 years . The purpose of the present study was to investigate the patients ' long-term outcome and , in particular , to examine the impact of patients ' treatment adherence on response , remission and relapse .  Of the 1031 patients in the intent-to-treat ( ITT ) sample , 835 completed the study . After 2 years , the overall remission rate defined as a Montgomery – Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score of nine or less was 68 % in the ITT sample analysed with the last observation carried forward ( LOCF ) technique , and 75 % in observed cases . In total , 34 % of the responders experienced at least one relapse . Response rates ( LOCF ) were significantly higher in adherent compared to non-adherent patients at week 24 [ 95 % confidence interval (CI)=21.4–32.1 ] , year 1 ( 95 % CI=12.3–22.2 ) and year 2 ( 95 % CI=9.2–19.0 ) . Remission rates ( LOCF ) were also significantly higher in the group of adherent patients at week 24 ( 95 % CI=9.6–21.5 ) , year 1 ( 95 % CI=10.0–21.5 ) and year 2 ( 95 % CI=11.0–22.0 ) . No relationship between adherence and relapse rate was observed , although the mean time from response to first sign of relapse was significantly longer in the adherent patients ( 95 % CI=9–97 days ) . In conclusion , this 2-year follow-up study showed superior long-term recovery in patients who were adherent to antidepressant medication compared to non-adherent patients
Depression frequently causes unemployment , absenteeism , and presenteeism , which results in significantly reduced productivity .
Improving patients ' compliance with their antidepressant medication results in improved outcomes and prolongs remission from depression , increasing work productivity , and thus reducing overall costs .
The implementation of remote enhanced-care programs may improve compliance and reduce overall costs .
In conclusion , depression is a common disorder with a high economic impact .
Enhanced-care programs may lower costs associated with depression and improve patients ' lives
This systematic review examines the economic and human costs of depression and the potential savings associated with improvement in patient adherence to treatment with antidepressants through the use of enhanced-care programs .