All adults should be asked about depression during routine visits if there is a way to get them care. Care involves a case manager or other ways to get help when it’s needed.

Pediatricians should be asking about depression for those who are 11 to 21 years old.

Screening Tests

There are many questionnaires that are used to screen for depression. One way is to ask 2 easy 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?

You may be referred for further testing and treatment.

References:

Depression in adults: Screening. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/depression-in-adults-screening1. Updated January 2016. Accessed October 9, 2018.

Depression in children and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.... Updated July 23, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2018.

Depression in children and adolescents: Screening. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/depression-in-children-and-adolescents-screening1. Updated February 2016. Accessed October 9, 2018.

Major depressive disorder (MDD). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.... Updated August 23, 2018. Accessed October 9, 2018.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrian Preda, MD
Last Updated: 11/13/2020

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