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Boston Economist Finds Major Depression Costs American Economy $210 Billion

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Depression can take a toll even beyond the emotional suffering it causes. It can cause people to gain weight, to lose sleep, to become irritable and reckless — or to suffer unexplained aches and pains.

Now, a new study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry assesses the cost — in dollars — of major depression. It's a huge number: $210 billion a year.

Think of it as the toll society pays for depression — and all the associated problems that come with it.

Guests

Carey Goldberg, co-host of WBUR's CommonHealth blog. She tweets at @commonhealth.

Paul Greenberg, co-author of the study and head of the health care practice at the Boston economic consulting firm, Analysis Group.

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CommonHealth: Growing Burden: Toll Of Major Depression Now Put At $210 Billion A Year

  • "For more than two decades, Boston economist Paul Greenberg has been calculating the costs of depression — the mood disorder, that is, not the economic downturn."

This segment aired on March 16, 2015.

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