These recommendations are a change from the 1996 USPSTF recommendations that found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against regular formal screening for depression. Since then, the task force reviewed new evidence from randomized trials that tested various screening tools and types of interventions for depression.
Five percent to nine percent of adult patients in primary care settings suffer from depression, the task force found, and up to 50 percent of these cases go undetected and therefore, untreated. Those at increased risk for depression include women, those with a family history of depression, the unemployed, and those with chronic disease. Depression increases health care utilization and costs $17 billion in lost workdays each year. But depression can be treated with counseling, medications or both.
The task force does not recommend one screening tool over another, did not find sufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening of children or adolescents for depression, and found no evidence on how frequently depression screening should occur.
NOTES TO EDITOR: Embargoed copies of the recommendations, "Screening for Depression: Recommendations and Rationale" and the summary of evidence background paper, "Screening for Depression in Adults: A Summary of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force," can be obtained by calling the ACP-ASIM Communications Department at 1-800-523-1546, ext. 2656.
To contact AHRQ regarding the USPSTF recommendation, please call Barbara Najar, (301) 594-9881, bnajar@ahrq.gov or Farah Englert, (301) 594-6372, fenglert@ahrq.gov.
This study is highlighted in the Internal Medicine Report video news release (VNR) series, produced by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine. The VNR will be released on Monday, May 20, at 5 p.m. EDT on the coordinates below.
Downlink time:
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM, EDT, Telstar 6, Transponder 11 C-Band (HOLD), Downlink Freq: 3920 (V)
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM, EDT, Telstar 6, Transponder 11 C-Band (HOLD), Downlink Freq: 3920 (V)
More information on depression and a free brochure is available for downloading at www.doctorsforadults.com. The Doctors for Adults Web site and brochure were developed by the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine.
The depression screening recommendations and a list of other topics under review by the USPSTF are available at the AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/3rduspstf/depression/. AHRQ plans to compile all of the USPSTF chapters and evidence summaries in a notebook, "Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, Third Edition: Periodic Updates," which will be issued once or twice yearly. The recommendations on depression screening can also be found on the Annals of Internal Medicine Web site, www.annals.org.
Journal
Annals of Internal Medicine