Changes in Work Impairment and Associated Cost Savings Among Employees Receiving Psychotherapy

Objective – The aim of the study was to 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 among N = 5450 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% confidence interval [−3.01, −2.75]) and lost productive time (b = −4.00, 95% confidence interval [−4.25, −3.74]). Based on the median US salary, improvements corresponded to an average cost savings of $4806 PEPY. Cost savings increased with increasing baseline work impairment severity (very severe: $20, 882 PEPY at the median US 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.