Data and Code for "The Economic Impact of Depression Treatment in India: Evidence from Community-Based Provision of Pharmacotherapy"

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Daniel Bennett, University of Southern California; Manuela Angelucci, University of Texas at Austin

Version: View help for Version V1

Name	File Type	Size	Last Modified
Data			08/09/2023 05:21:PM
Output			08/09/2023 05:22:PM
Processed			08/09/2023 05:28:PM
Programs			10/04/2023 04:46:PM
Questionnaires			05/10/2023 08:32:PM
README.pdf	application/pdf	58 KB	10/04/2023 12:45:PM

Project Citation:

Bennett, Daniel, and Angelucci, Manuela. Data and Code for “The Economic Impact of Depression Treatment in India: Evidence from Community-Based Provision of Pharmacotherapy.” Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2023. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2023-12-22. https://doi.org/10.3886/E191402V1

Project Description

Summary: This study evaluates the impact of depression treatment on economic behavior in Karnataka, India. We cross-randomize pharmacotherapy and livelihoods assistance among 1000 depressed adults and evaluate impacts on depression severity, socioeconomic outcomes, and several potential pathways. When combined, the interventions reduce depression severity, with benefits that persist after treatment concludes. Pharmacotherapy alone has a weaker effect that is only marginally significant and dissipates sooner. Depression treatment does not significantly increase earnings, consumption, or human capital investment in children.

Funding Sources: Swiss National Science Foundation; Jameel Poverty Action Lab

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: Depression; Health; Poverty

JEL Classification:
I15 Health and Economic Development
I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

Geographic Coverage: Karnataka, India

Time Period(s): 12/1/2016 – 4/30/2019

Collection Date(s): 12/1/2016 – 4/30/2019

Universe: Adults near Bangalore who screened positive for depression symptoms.

Data Type(s): survey data

Methodology

Response Rate: The aggregate response rate across 5 survey rounds was 89.5%

Sampling: We screened adults in three taluks near Bangalore for depression. We recruited individuals with depression symptoms to participate in the study, as described in the manuscript.

Data Source: Survey data collected by the authors.

Collection Mode(s): face-to-face interview

Scales: PHQ-9 Depression Severity Scale
GAD-7 Anxiety Scale
Several Likert Scales as described in the included survey questionnaires.

Weights: For child-level analysis of impacts on human capital investment, we weight by the inverse number of school-aged children in the household.

Unit(s) of Observation: Study Participants and Children

Geographic Unit: Locality (rural village or urban ward).

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Published Versions

V1 [2023-12-22]

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