The impact of bipolar disorder on work loss

To evaluate work loss associated with bipolar disorder, workers with bipolar disorder or depression and matched nonpsychiatric controls were identified from an employer health claims database, Mean annual absence hours, short-term disability (STD) payments, and worker compensation payments for the year 2000 were 55, $1231, and $554, respectively, for persons with bipolar; 53, $741, and $518 for those with depression; 21, $131, and $228 for those in the bipolar-matched control group; and 24,$178, and $220 for persons in the depression-matched control group. The bipolar group had greater absence hours and STD payments than the matched control group and greater increase in STD payments than the depression group. Results suggest bipolar disorder is associated with substantial work loss and related indirect costs.