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. The US Preventive Services Task Force
recommends that primary care doctors screen their adult patients
for depression if they have a system in place to support these
patients (eg, like case management or mental health treatment).
There are a number of different questionnaires to screen for
depression. One example of screening is 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? - Reviewer: Brian
Randall, MD - Review Date: 09/2012 - - Update Date: 00/91/2012 -