"4. Condition: Mental disorders, including depression Estimated Cost: $56 billion.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about 50 million americans are diagnosed each year with a mental health problem that is disabling enough to interfere with their normal, daily functioning. Yet only about 20 percent actually receive the help they need. AHRQ estimates that, in 2005, $23 billion was spent on prescription medication and $6 billion on home health care services to treat mental disorders. In addition to treating depression, lost labor time among those with mental disorders such as depression is staggering. In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the cost of labor loss due to depression was estimated at $44 billion"
- from 10 Most Expensive Medical Conditions
