2020∼2024년 한국 정신건강 질환 환자와 의료비 변화: 구조적 요인 분석과 한의학적 해석

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined patient counts and healthcare costs for depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Korea from 2020 to 2024. Cost growth was decomposed into patient-count and per-capita cost effects, with attention to demographic disparities and an integrative interpretation that includes traditional Korean medicine. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using national health insurance claims (2020∼ 2024). Indicators included patient counts and total and per-capita costs. Growth rates and Shapley decomposition were applied to identify structural drivers, with additional gender- and age-specific analyses. Results: Between 2020 and 2024, depression cases rose by 32.41% and costs by 64.69%, driven mainly by patient expansion (62.99%). Anxiety disorder showed smaller patient growth (20.76%) but the largest rise in per-capita costs (+26.82%), indicating intensified treatment. Panic disorder and PTSD grew by 25.0∼25.7%, with cost increases largely explained by patient numbers. Across all disorders, women— especially adolescents and young adults—showed the steepest growth, underscoring vulnerability. These patterns paralleled global trends but were amplified in Korea by high healthcare accessibility and repeated disaster exposure. Conclusions: Mental health costs increased through distinct pathways: patient expansion for depression, panic disorder, and PTSD, and rising treatment intensity for anxiety disorder. The heightened vulnerability of adolescent and young adult women highlights the need for targeted interventions. By combining biomedical and traditional Korean medicine perspectives, this study offers evidence for cost-effective, population-specific policies.