Course of depression, health services costs, and work productivity in an international primary care study

Abstract

The Longitudinal Investigation of Depression Outcomes (LIDO) Study examined the outcomes and economic correlates of previously untreated depression among primary care patients in Barcelona, Spain; Be'er Sheva, Israel; Melbourne, Australia; Porto Alegre, Brazil; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Seattle, USA. Across all sites, 968 patients with current depressive disorder completed assessments of depression severity (Composite International Diagnostic Interview and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) at baseline and 9 months, and assessments of health services utilization and work days missed at baseline, 9 months, and 12 months. Follow-up depression status was characterized as persi..