Resumen de Recommendations for Screening for Depression in Adults
Although major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the world’s great public health problems, the morbidity and increased mortality associated with this common illness can be attenuated by the large number of effective treatments that are now widely available. It is therefore important to ensure that efficient methods for population screening are in place and directly linked to health care systems so depressed patients receive appropriate treatment. This is particularly important because effective treatments of depression not only reduce symptoms associated with the disease and reduce the risk of suicide, but also can improve functioning and offset the negative effects that depressive symptoms can have on physical well-being. In the United States, like many other economically developed nations, primary care practices represent the best place for implementation of these methods, because it is the only venue where both screening and, if clinically indicated, treatment can be provided. With this ideal in mind, in 20021 and 20092 the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published systematic reviews and recommendations for such screening for adults. In this issue of JAMA, Siu and colleagues3 provide the second update on this important topic.
