The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now officially recommends that primary care health clinicians screen all of their patients for depression. Though this is wonderful, this is very, very long overdue. The costs associated with depression and other mental health screen are insignificant relative to the potential gains of “catching” otherwise unrecognized suffering patients. Physicians and other front-line, primary care providers are offered screening guidelines by the AMA via this JAMA article.
Hopefully with more patients being routinely screened, including pregnant and post-partum women – – an often overlooked depressed population, more people will receive quality treatment consisting of psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medications.