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US Task Force Recommends Screening Adolescents for Clinical Depression ROCKVILLE, Md -- April 1, 2009 -- The US Preventive Services Task Force now recommends screening adolescents aged 12 to 18 years for clinical depression only when appropriate systems are in place to ensure accurate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. The recommendations and the accompanying summary of evidence appear in the April issue of Pediatrics. In a separate recommendation, the Task Force found insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening children aged 7 to 11 years for clinical depression. The Task Force reviewed new evidence on the benefits and harms of screening children and adolescents for depression, the accuracy of screening tests administered in the primary care setting, and the benefits and risks of treating depression using psychotherapy and/or medications in patients aged 7 to 18 years. "Depression in adolescents has a significant impact on both mental and physical health, and adolescents with depression have more hospitalisations for psychiatric and medical issues than adolescents who are not depressed," said Ned Calonge, MD, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado. "It is important that adolescents are diagnosed and treated for clinical depression in order to improve their health and quality of life, especially if they have a family history of depression." Depressed children and adolescents are at an increased risk of suicide, and adolescents suffering from clinical depression are also more likely to suffer from depression in early adulthood. There is adequate evidence that treating adolescents with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), psychotherapy or combined therapy results in decreased clinical depression symptoms. However, treating clinically depressed youths with SSRIs is associated with an increased risk of suicidality and, therefore, should only be considered if careful clinical supervision is possible. The recommendations and materials for clinicians are available on the AHRQ Web site at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspschdepr.htm. SOURCE: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version