Have you been screened for depression?
A simple screening test can help your doctor accurately diagnose you for depression.
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Primary-care doctors should screen all adults for depression, according to new recommendations
from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent advisory panel for the government. That advice is based on new evidence from clinical trials showing that screening can lead to effective diagnosis and treatment of depressed individuals.
The screening test can be as simple as asking these two questions: "Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?" and "Have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?"
Researchers estimate that anywhere from 5 to 9 percent of adult primary-care patients suffer from depression, and that up to 50 percent of those cases are not recognized. Individuals at increased risk include women, people who have a family history of depression, unemployed individuals, and those with a chronic disease.
from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent advisory panel for the government. That advice is based on new evidence from clinical trials showing that screening can lead to effective diagnosis and treatment of depressed individuals.
The screening test can be as simple as asking these two questions: "Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?" and "Have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?"
Researchers estimate that anywhere from 5 to 9 percent of adult primary-care patients suffer from depression, and that up to 50 percent of those cases are not recognized. Individuals at increased risk include women, people who have a family history of depression, unemployed individuals, and those with a chronic disease.
CITATIONS
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. "Screening for depression: Recommendations and rationale." Annals of Internal Medicine, May 21, 2002, pp. 760-64.If you suspect you are suffering from depression, make an appointment with your doctor soon. Prompt, proper treatment of depression can control symptoms and restore your quality of life. With many drug and nondrug options available, having up-to-date, unbiased information is very important.
This article originally appeared in Consumer Reports on Health in March 2003.
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