Think Tank Says American Adults Should Receive Screening for Depression

With this proposal, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force broadens its 2009 recommendation that adults be screened in doctors’ offices if staff-assisted depression care is available.

WASHINGTON (WUSA)- A new standard for depression screening in adults is being considered by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Until August 24th, the task force has left the doors open for public commentary on their drafted recommendations. She explains, “Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States”.

This is a grade B(www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org) recommendation, meaning the USPSTF determined that “there is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial”.

A previous USPSTF recommendation from 2009 called for selective screening based on professional judgment and patient preferences when depression care support was not available.

The Task Force noted that the Patient Health Questionnaire is the most commonly used depression screening tool in the United States.

The review also found six good or fair quality trials about the benefit that addressed screening pregnant and postpartum women for depression. Chief among these were women suffering from postpartum depression.

According to data from(www.cdc.gov) the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2010, one out of about every dozen people age 12 or older has experienced symptoms of depression in the past two weeks.

The AAFP is reviewing the USPSTF’s draft recommendation and will update its own recommendation after the task force publishes its final recommendation statement. Therefore, the overall magnitude of these harms was “small to moderate”.

Depression is more common in women than men.

The draft also reads: “Screening should be implemented with adequate systems in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment and appropriate follow-up”.

“The perinatal period, in which women regularly visit their obstetrician-gynecologists, provides an opportunity for physicians to conduct routine screening for depression, but this screening remains important through a woman’s life”. Binder was not involved with the USPSTF proposal. Clinicians should understand the evidence but individualize decision making to the specific patient or situation.

No conflicts of interest for USPSTF members were reported.