Screening for Depression

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Main Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Guidelines

Currently, there are no screening guidelines for depression. Once you experience symptoms, your doctor will evaluate you as part of the diagnostic process. Many patients report chronic physical symptoms to their physicians that can be attributed to depression, but few doctors screen for the condition, which often goes undiagnosed.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care physicians screen their adult patients for depression, using two simple questions:

• "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
• "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?"

The guidelines can be found at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm.