Related Experiment Videos
Adolescent depression screening in primary care: feasibility and acceptability.
Rachel A Zuckerbrot1, Laura Maxon, Dana Pagar
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. raz1@columbia.edu
Pediatrics
|January 4, 2007
Summary
Routine pediatric care can effectively incorporate adolescent depression screening. This systematic approach, involving a brief paper screen, was feasible and accepted by patients, parents, and providers, improving early identification of depression.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric primary care
- Mental health screening
- Adolescent health
Background:
- Adolescent depression is underdiagnosed and undertreated, with only 25-33% of affected individuals receiving care.
- Integrating depression and suicidality assessments into routine pediatric visits could address underdiagnosis and underreferral.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the feasibility and acceptability of implementing adolescent depression screening into clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- A two-stage protocol was implemented: a pen-and-paper screen followed by a computerized assessment.
- Screening was conducted during health maintenance and urgent care visits in a busy pediatric practice.
- Providers tracked screening numbers and provided feedback on practice burden and patient/parent-provider relationships.
Main Results:
- 79% of adolescents at health maintenance visits were screened; the majority of all patient types were screened.
- The average paper screen completion time was 4.6 minutes.
- Providers reported positive patient/parent satisfaction, manageable time burden, and a desire to continue the paper screen.
Conclusions:
- Universal, systematic depression screening using a standardized instrument in pediatric practice is feasible and well-accepted.
- Patients, parents, and providers perceived the screening process positively, with minimal resistance.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Depression: Overview
Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
01:27Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia
Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...