Should We Screen for Depression in Primary Care?
Authors: Marcia Valenstein, Sandeep Vijan, John Zeber
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters5 March 2002Should We Screen for Depression in Primary Care?Marcia Valenstein, MD, MS, Sandeep Vijan, MD, MS, and John Zeber, MHAMarcia Valenstein, MD, MSDepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0170 (Valenstein, Vijan, Zeber)Search for more papers by this author, Sandeep Vijan, MD, MSDepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0170 (Valenstein, Vijan, Zeber)Search for more papers by this author, and John Zeber, MHADepartment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0170 (Valenstein, Vijan, Zeber)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-136-5-200203050-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Although many patients do not recognize or voluntarily admit symptoms of depression, Dr. Platt reminds us that compassionate and alert physicians can often detect these initially “hidden” depressive disorders. In such cases, formal case-finding instruments may be unnecessary or serve only to confirm suspected diagnoses. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend formal depression screening but does recommend that clinicians maintain a high index of suspicion for depression—in essence recommending, as Dr. Platt does, that physicians diagnose depression through a careful history (1). Yet many patients with depression remain undiagnosed and many patients who are diagnosed ...References1. . Guide to Clinical Preventive Services. 2nd ed. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1996. Google Scholar2. Hirschfeld RM, Keller MB, Panico S, Arons BS, Barlow D, Davidoff F, et al . The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association consensus statement on the undertreatment of depression. JAMA. 1997;277:333-40. [PMID: 9002497] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Roter DL, Hall JA, Kern DE, Barker LR, Cole KA, Roca RP. Improving physicians' interviewing skills and reducing patients' emotional distress. A randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:1877-84. [PMID: 7677554] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kroenke K. Depression screening is not enough [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:418-20. [PMID: 11242502] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Lin EH, Katon WJ, Simon GE, Von Korff M, Bush TM, Rutter CM, et al . Achieving guidelines for the treatment of depression in primary care: is physician education enough? Med Care. 1997;35:831-42. [PMID: 9268255] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0170 (Valenstein, Vijan, Zeber) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoDepression Screening Is Not Enough Kurt Kroenke The Cost–Utility of Screening for Depression in Primary Care Marcia Valenstein , Sandeep Vijan , John E. Zeber , Kathryn Boehm , and Amna Buttar Should We Screen for Depression in Primary Care? Frederic W. Platt Metrics Cited byMultiple cranial nerve involvement in Bannwarth’s syndrome 5 March 2002Volume 136, Issue 5Page: 412KeywordsAntidepressantsDepressionHealth carePsychiatry and mental health ePublished: 5 March 2002 Issue Published: 5 March 2002 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...