USPSTF Recommends Screening for Depression in All Adults and Screening for Anxiety in Adults Younger Than 65

The evidence was insufficient to recommend screening for anxiety in older adults or screening for suicide risk in anyone.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

Background

The high prevalence of depressive disorders, suicide and suicidal ideation, and anxiety disorders, and their substantial functional and comorbid effects, prompted the USPSTF to update its recommendations for screening.

Recommendations

The USPSTF addressed screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) specifically (as opposed to subsyndromal depression, minor depression, and dysthymia), suicide risk, and all anxiety disorders (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and phobias), and drew the following conclusions:

All adults, including older adults and pregnant or postpartum people, should be screened for MDD (B recommendation; m…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

Disclosures

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