Challenges facing employers in the treatment of depression.

OBJECTIVE: To review the challenges of treating depression in the workplace in the environment of increased health care costs. SUMMARY: The cost of health care is on the rise, and employers and employees are at odds over who will share the burden of these costs. The focus of cost containment has been to minimize drug cost; however, employers need to be aware of indirect costs of medical illness. Due to its prevalence and rate of undertreatment, depression is one of the main disease states that employers should target in their disease management efforts. CONCLUSION: In order to treat depression appropriately, we must consider the social stigma, treatment barriers, and health care structure that exist to treat depression. Additional outcomes data is needed to demonstrate to employers, the largest purchasers of health care, the benefit of managing depression in the workplace.