Patients with MDD alone have more temporary disabilities when compared to people with a single physical chronic condition. As predicted, patients with three or more chronic physical conditions had the greatest disabilities that resulted in full-time bed rest. The effect on temporary disabilities is increases in the presence of a physical chronic condition and co-morbid MDD. 


Two-Week Disability as a Result of Co-Morbid MDD

Temporary disability is a count of the number of days an individual with an illness has to limit most of their daily activities. The duration of the temporary disability differs with the severity of the chronic illness an individual has. Temporary disability can also come in the form of bed rest advised by a medical professional for recovery.

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- Health-care Utilization
- Reduction of Activities
- Temporary Disability


Impact of Chronic Illnesses

When a person is diagnosed with a physical chronic illness, due to the limitations caused as a result of pain, work absences, activity reduction, and temporary disabilities, there can be a co-morbid presentation of mental illnesses such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). 

Chronic Illness and Major Depressive Disorder

Stein, M., Cox, B., Afifi, T., Belik, S.-L., &amp; Sareen, J. (2006). Does Co-Morbid Depressive Illness Magnify the Impact of Chronic Physical Illness? A Population-Based Perspective. Psychological Medicine, 36, 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291706007239 

Does co-morbid depressive illness magnify the impact of chronic physical illness?
A population-based perspective

 Patients with MDD alone have more visitations with a healthcare professional as opposed to people with a single physical chronic condition. The use of medical care increases with the number of physical chronic conditions. If there is an physical chronic condition and co-morbid MDD, the hospital vist rates are greater, incurring an additional 50% in medical costs. 


Healthcare Utilization of Patients with Co-Morbid MDD

Patients with MDD have a higher reduction in activities in terms of work and school absences and high cost of treatment, amounting to an economic cost of 83 billion dollars. People with three or more chronic physical conditions reported the most absenteeism. There is a greater reduction of activities with the combined effect of co-morbid MDD and physical chronic conditions than from either of the conditions.


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