Changes in work impairment and associated cost savings among employees receiving psychotherapy: Retrospective cohort study

Objectives

Examine changes in work impairment and associated cost savings among employees receiving psychotherapy through an employer-sponsored benefit.

Methods

A retrospective analysis evaluated changes in work impairment and lost productive time (LPT) among N = 5,450 adults receiving psychotherapy. Per employee per year (PEPY) cost savings due to gains in productive time were estimated using a range of salary benchmarks.

Results

Employees experienced significant reductions in work impairment (b = -2.88, 95% CI [-3.01, -2.75]) and LPT (b = -4.00, 95% CI [-4.25, -3.74]). Based on the median U.S. salary, improvements corresponded to an average cost savings of $4,806 PEPY. Cost savings increased with increasing baseline work impairment severity (very severe: $20,882 PEPY at the median U.S. salary).

Conclusions

Employees receiving evidence-based psychotherapy experience meaningful reductions in work impairment, which are associated with employer cost savings due to productive time gains.