Screening for Depression

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Guidelines

There are a number of different questionnaires to screen for depression. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care physicians screen their adult patients for depression, using two simple questions:

• "Over the past two weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
• "Over the past two weeks, have you felt little interest or pleasure in doing things?"