According to estimates by WHO, 350 million people suffer from depression. The biggest funds were received to inpatient care (meaning psychiatric treatment and addiction treatment), resulted in expenditure of PLN 114 824 490 in 2013. The cost of inability to work due to depressive episode was estimated at PLN 320 177.7 thousand, whereas the expenses caused by recurrent depressive disorder was accounted for PLN 441 798 thousand. To reduce the cost burden, the amendments in depression managment are needed. From economic point of view, therapeutic drug monitoring, cost‑effectiveness analyses, evaluation of gene polymorphism or active monitoring are also beneficial.

Key words: depression, pharmacoeconomics, the effectiveness of treatment.