Depression
#7
Lasker/Funding First
in a series
The medical and health
research policy program of the
Mary Woodard Lasker Charitable Trust
}fDepression
acts about:
Inves
sav tment in r
es liv esearch www.fundingfirst.org
“If you think research is expensive, try disease.
www.laskerfoundation.org ”
es and money — Mary Lasker 1901–1994
Today:
The Cost:
::Ten percent of Americans will suffer from an episode of
depression at some time in their lives.
::Depressive diseases cost U.S. businesses $83 billion for
medical expenditures, suicide-related costs, absences from
::Depression is the second most common chronic illness seen
work and reduced productivity while at work.*
by primary care physicians.
::Depressive diseases are the leading cause of disability in the ::Depression accounts for $36 billion in lost workdays each
year. In addition, more than $15 billion in other costs accrue
United States.
from decreased productivity as a result of symptoms that
sap energy, affect work habits and cause problems with
::Depression is the cause of more than two-thirds of the 30,000 concentration, memory and decision-making.*
reported suicides in the U.S. each year.
SOURCE: *GREENBERG, PE, ET AL., THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF DEPRESSION IN THE UNITED STATES:
::People with a history of depressive diseases are four times HOW DID IT CHANGE BETWEEN 1990 AND 2000? J CLIN PSYCHIATRY, 2003; 64(12): 1465-1475.
as likely to have a heart attack than those without a history
of depression.
SOURCE: AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002 {WWW.AAFP.ORG/AFP/20020915/1001.HTML}
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH {WWW.NIMH.NIH.GOV}
DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE {WWW.DBSALLIANCE.ORG}
surviv
NAME:
AGE: 35 or
STEPHANIE LICHTMAN-PRICE
SAVING LIVES
SAVING MONEY
CONDITION: DEPRESSION
Stephanie Lichtman-Price lives in Maryland with her
Research shows that primary care physicians and other
two children and works part-time as a professional
HO
::trW RESEARCH SA
health care profes
aining program are mor VES LIVES:
sionals who participate in an inexpensive
musician and piano teacher. Diagnosed with depression
e likely to detect depression and are
10 years ago, Stephanie is understandably protective of
more capable of appropriately treating depressive illnesses,
thereby reducing the duration of their patients’ illness.
her improved mental health. Although she has not had a
major depressive episode in two years, she continues to
take medication to prevent one. “I do well as long as I
::Up to 80% of people treated for depression with medication,
with psychotherapy, by attending support groups, or with a
combination of these treatments, show improvements in
don’t let myself get too stressed,” she says.
symptoms within four to six weeks.
SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Over the years, research led to improved drugs for
{WWW.NIMH.NIH.GOV}
depression with fewer side effects and Stephanie says
she is thankful for the better quality of life she enjoys as
a result. Better medicines in combination with therapy
otal health care expenditures for people who suffer simulta-
allowed her to conquer severe symptoms that plagued
HO
::TW RESEARCH SA
neously from depres
than for those with diabet VES MONEY:
sion and diabetes are 4.5 times higher
her for years.
es alone.*
Stephanie does worry about her children and their
mental wellness. “Research about depression has shown
::NIH-funded researchers identified a relationship between
depression and a brain chemical called serotonin. This discov-
ery led to the development of a new class of anti-depressant
that it can run in families. So I watch my kids for any
medicines referred to as SSRIs (e.g., Prozac). SSRIs are more
signs,” she says. She hopes that researchers can discov-
effective, safer and have fewer side effects than previous
er the underlying causes of depression so that future
anti-depressant medicines and ultimately lower health
expenditures.**
generations can live free of this chronic and debilitating
SOURCE: *EGEDE, L.E., ET AL., DIABETES CARE, 25(3):464-470, MARCH 2002
disease.
**THE BENEFITS OF MEDICAL RESEARCH AND THE ROLE OF NIH, OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN, CONNIE
MACK, JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE, UNITED STATES SENATE, MAY 2000 {WWW.JEC.SENATE.GOV}
}
The Bottom Line:
facts about: Depression
Hope for the Future:
The physical and psychological symptoms of depressive
illnesses impair performance in school and at work, can
::New and emerging technologies — such as functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) — allow researchers
to detect subtle changes in brain function that may be
destroy lives and families, and are extremely costly to society.
associated with depressive diseases.
Research is needed to uncover the genetic, chemical and
environmental factors that lead to depression so that doctors
and other health care professionals can better diagnose, treat
::By tracking these changes in brain function, physicians
may learn how to distinguish among different forms of
depression, thereby increasing the likelihood of developing
and ultimately prevent depression.
more effective medicines to prevent and treat various forms
of depressive diseases.
::Thanks to the Human Genome Project, medical scientists
are starting to identify genes that predispose people to
Willing to pay more
depressive and other brain diseases. Identification of genes
Public willing t
Not willing to pay more
W
o
associated with inherited forms of depression will open the
pay more for
Don't know
door to new and more powerful therapies. Investment in
prescription drugs
ould you be willing to
research is the best way to assure a healthier future for
pay $1 more for each
ourselves and our children.
prescription drug if you
4%
SOURCE: U.S. SURGEON GENERAL DAVID SATCHER, MD, PHD MENTAL HEALTH: A REPORT OF THE
were certain that all the
SURGEON GENERAL
money would be spent
for additional research?
33%
63%
SOURCE: CHARLTON RESEARCH COMPANY FOR RESEARCH!AMERICA, 2004
Number of Suicides in 2001
WA
712
MT
ND
175
79
MN
NH
480
VT 167
72
ME
OR
WI
161
505
SD
ID210
WY
105
639
83
MI
NY
NE
IA
1,051
1,253
MA
187
304
426
NV
IL
PA
387
UT321
CO
1,139 IN
1,276
CT283 RI88
722
KS
MO
715 OH1,219
NJ
293
725
KY WV
588 DE
495 286 VA797
MD
454 108
CA2,831
OK
DC
AZ
NM
515 AR
TN
40
767
362
382
711
NC
MS
997
328 AL
SC
512 GA 467
1101 King Street, Suite 520
SOURCE: NATIONAL CENTER
TX
935
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
FOR HEALTH STATISTICS
2,225
LA493
703.739.2577
FL
1.800.366.CURE
2,314
Fax 703.739.2372
www.researchamerica.org
30,622
SUICIDES IN THE
info@researchamerica.org
AK102
U.S. IN 2001
For additional information contact
the National Alliance for the
Mentally Ill at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264);
HI136
www.nami.org.
