Screening for Depression

Release Date: May 2002

Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents

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The information found here is current for adults. This recommendation has been updated in part for children and adolescents. Go to http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspschdepr.htm to view the new recommendation for children and adolescents, published in March 2009.

Summary of Recommendations

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening adults for depression in clinical practices that have systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and followup.
  Grade: B Recommendation.
• The USPSTF concludes the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening of children or adolescents for depression.
  Grade: I Statement.

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Supporting Documents

Screening for Depression, May 2002
Recommendations and Rationale (PDF File, 77 KB; PDF Help)
Summary of the Evidence (PDF File, 136 KB; PDF Help)
Systematic Evidence Review (PDF File, 1.5 MB; PDF Help)

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Current as of March 2009

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Internet Citation:

Screening for Depression, Topic Page. March 2009. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsdepr.htm

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