Leading task force reverses earlier decision – now recommends screening adolescents

When it comes to physical illnesses, everyone knows identifying symptoms early on can lead to better outcomes. New recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggest the same may be true for mental health conditions.

USPSTF recommends screening adolescents aged 12 to 18 for depression when systems are in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, psychotherapy (cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal), and follow-up. It’s a change from the group’s 2002 report concluding there wasn’t enough evidence to support or oppose screening for teens.

A federal government survey released last year showed that more than 2 million teenagers in the U.S. suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, a condition that’s been linked to lower grades, more physical illness, drug use, and an increase risk for suicide.

“Depression impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. When left untreated, it can lead to devastating consequences. The early detection of depression greatly increases the chances that a teenager will receive appropriate treatment and experience a better quality of life,” said Douglas G. Jacobs, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of Screening for Mental Health^®.

According to the report from USPSTF, mental health questionnaires can accurately identify teens with symptoms of depression.

• Sadness or hopelessness
• Irritability, anger, or hostility
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits

The USPSTF recommendations and summary of evidence appear in the April issue of Pediatrics and are based on an extensive scientific evidence review conducted by researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, part of the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center. The USPSTF is the leading independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care and conducts rigorous, impartial assessments of the scientific evidence for the effectiveness of a broad range of clinical preventive services, including screening, counseling and preventive medications.