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Radiocast: Screening Teens for Clinical
Depression
Debra: This is Healthcare 411: Information for better health. May 6 -12
is National Mental Health Counseling Week and a good time to remember that
mental health isn’t just an issue that affects adults. Nearly 6 percent of
adolescents aged 13 to 18 years old suffer from depression. A new recommendation
from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises screening adolescents for
clinical depression. Task Force member and pediatrician Dr. Tom DeWitt explains:
Dr. DeWitt: The Task Force reviewed new evidence on the benefits and
harms of screening and treating adolescents for clinical depression. And what we
found is that depression screening tests developed for use by primary clinicians
work well now to detect clinical depression in adolescents aged 12 to 18. The
Task Force is recommending that adolescents be screened when care is available.
Follow up treatment makes it possible to accurately diagnose depression and
provide psychotherapy.
Debra: Healthcare 411 is produced by AHRQ, the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
I’m Debra James for Healthcare 411.
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