New Study in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Concludes Economic Burden of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Reaches $216 Billion

SUNSET , La., April 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study published in the February edition of Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, "The Economic Burden of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder in the United States (2005 and 2010)" (Greenberg, P., et. al) found costs of MDD to employers to be $216 Billion-up 21.5% from 2005-2010.

The authors compiled and analyzed data from the OptumHealth Reporting and Insights administrative claims database, a private insurance database including over 16 million members from from 69 large, self-insured companies. Study participants met the following criteria: age 18-64 and having a single or recurrent episode of MDD between the years of 2005-2010. In this study, MDD was considered a comorbid condition, and patients were matched with controls for comorbid conditions that have been reported to have a direct link to MDD (i.e., back pain).

Among individuals with MDD, there was a 21.5% increase from 2005-2010 in costs to employers with approximately 50% attributable to workplace costs, 47% to direct costs, 5% to suicide-related costs, and 38% attributable to MDD as a single condition.

The findings of this study highlight not only the prevalence of MDD, but how costly and debilitating this condition is. JayMac Pharmaceuticals, the makers of EnLyte, a natural prescription option to treat depression, hope to bring this education to the forefront. EnLyte can be added to existing antidepressants to signficantly improve treatment outcomes for people suffering from MDD.

The authors note that those over age 50 accounted for a higher incidence of MDD, and that the 2008 economic downturn showed an impact in claims related to MDD, with more sufferers becoming unemployed or underemployed.

This study is a follow-up to the ground breaking studies by the same group taking a closer look at the economic impact of depression: "The Economic Burden of Depression in 1990" (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, November 1993) and "The Economic Burden of Depression in the United States: How Did It Change Between 1990 and 2000?" (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, December 2003).

The results of this most recent study led the authors to conclude further research into MDD is warranted, "These include population growth, increase in MDD prevalence, increase in treatment cost per individual with MDD, changes in employment and treatment rates, as well as changes in the composition and quality of MDD treatment services."

New Treatment Option For Major Depressive Disorder: About EnLyte

"EnLyte is the safe, natural thing that addresses the root cause of depression, rather than symptomatic relief." Andrew Farah, MD/Chief of Psychiatry, High Point Section of UNC Healthcare.

EnLyte is a natural, FDA-regulated, orally-administered prescription folate-containing product for the clinical dietary management of depression related to suboptimal folate levels associated with metabolic imbalances in transformylation and/or methylation biochemistry. For MDD, EnLyte is primarily used as adjunctive therapy to an SSRI/SNRI, without the side effects or drug interactions of standard antidepressants, and is a pregnancy category A depression treatment.

EnLyte provides complete folate therapy, based on the American Psychiatric Association Treatment Guidelines for MDD and the APA CAM Guidelines.

EnLyte is paid by many private insurance plans, with an average copay of $44/month, Tricare for $17/month, many state Medicaid plans, and through cash mail order for $58/month.

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