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Depression: counting the costs^*

Stanley House, Department of Psychological Medicine, 553 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 9BX

^* Abridged version of Merck Essay Prize Winner.

Depressive illness is the commonest form of mental disorder in the community. Its effects are far-reaching and include psychological suffering and social disruption for affected individuals and their families, increased mortality, and direct and indirect financial costs for society. Only about half of all cases of depression are recognised by doctors and not all of these receive effective treatment. The costs of depression could be reduced if detection and treatment were improved. Addressing this is a major challenge for psychiatric services.