Task Force Recommends Screening Adults For Depression

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now finds sufficient evidence to encourage primary care clinicians to screen their adult patients for depression. Formal screening can make it easier to identify depression, a common and treatable condition that often is not recognized by patients or their doctors. At the same time, the Task Force noted that clinicians should have systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up if patients are to benefit from screening.