Purpose: Given the burden of depression imposed on patients and society, the allocation of resources toward prevention of depression is low. In this study we investigated if patients and members of the society consider the burden of depression differently, both in terms of impact on quality of life, and willingness to pay for depression treatment.
Method: Two studies were conducted. In the first study 278 depression patients receiving treatment in an outpatient clinic and 567 members of the public read a depression health state description, rated the quality of life of this health state and answered how much they were willing to pay to be free of these depression symptoms. In the second study 217 patients who had received a diagnosis of depression and 148 members of the public read the same depression description and also rated the quality of life and their willingness to pay (WTP). In both studies members of the public indicated if they had experience with depression. Willingness to pay was corrected for annual income and is presented in percentage of annual income.
Result: The quality of life of the depression scenario was rated the same by patients and members of the public in study 1 (grouped median patients: 37.12 vs grouped median public: 33.83, Chi-square (1): 5.05, p = NS) ánd in study 2 (grouped median patients: 49.12 vs grouped median public: 46.25, Chi-square (1): 0.47, p = NS). On the contrary willingness to pay was substantially higher for patients than for the public in study 1 (Chi-square (1): 210.91, p < 0.001), and somewhat higher in study 2 (Chi-square (1): 9.00, p < 0.01). Members of the public who had experience with depression were willing to pay slightly more compared to members of the public without experience, but this difference was not statistical significant.
Conclusion: Members of the society and patients both state that depression is a severe illness, yet willingness to pay to be free from symptoms of this severe illness is stronger in patients, especially in ambulatory clinical patients.
Candidate for the Lee B. Lusted Student Prize Competition