Utilization of an Employee Behavioral Health Program and Its Effects on Outcomes for Depression and Anxiety Disorders

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of an employer-sponsored behavioral health program on depression and anxiety by assessing dose effect of psychotherapy. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis of patients with baseline scores more than or equal to 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD7). Survival analyses were conducted to assess whether those with a higher number of therapy sessions per episode (dose) achieved faster response (score reduction by 50% or below 10). RESULTS: Patients with medium (8 to 12 visits) or high (more than 12 visits) dose achieved faster response than those with low dose (less than eight visits; hazard ratios more than 1.5, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the medium and high dose. CONCLUSION: Higher dose of psychotherapy is correlated with improved behavioral health outcomes, although there appears to be no incremental benefit beyond a certain level.