Improving depression treatment by integrated care.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical and economic implications of depression in the workplace and review how integrated care models can improve overall patient outcomes.
SUMMARY: Depression is a significant financial burden to the employer due to lost days of work and decreased productivity. Employers are demanding return on the investment for their increasing health care expenditures. The cost of depression to employers may be contained by delivering care using integrated models that leverage primary care provider treatment with care management and mental health consultation.
CONCLUSION: There is a need to reduce silos in the organization and financing of mental health care to prevent cost shifting that provides no benefit to patients, payers or providers. Poor mental health care will likely lead to a rise in absenteeism and presenteeism.