Association of Opioid, Anti-depressant, and Benzodiazepines with Workers’ Compensation Cost: A Cohort Study

Background: Antidepressants, benzodiazapines and opioid medications are used to manage the pain, anxiety or depression associated with workplace injuries. Objective: To evaluate the impact of these medications on workers’ compensation costs and time lost from work. Methods: A cohort of 22,383 indemnity claims from 2008-2013 were evaluated for the association of prescribed medications on claim cost and delayed claim closure controlling for confounders. Results: Claims with anti-depressant, opioid or benzodiazepine prescriptions were 2.24 (95% CI: 2.00-2.51), 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02-1.27), and 1.38 (95% CI: 1.23-1.54) times more likely to remain open at the end of the study. Conclusion: The concurrent treatment of pain, depression or anxiety and occupational injuries are associated with large increases in claim cost and delayed return to work. Keywords: psychotropic mediation, opioid, anti-depressant, benzodiazepines, occupational injury, workers’ compensation