OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry News The cost of treating a depressed person fell throughout the 1990s, largely because of a switch from hospitalization to medication, but the overall cost of treating the illness in this country rose 31% during the decade to $26 billion in 2000 because of a sharp rise in the number of patients. The rate of treatment for depression - the share of sufferers who got help - rose 56% during the 10-year span. However, annual costs per treated case fell to . . .