Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Depression in Children and Adolescents

Final Recommendation Statement: Screening for Depression in Children and Adolescents

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on screening for depression in children and adolescents. The Task Force recommended screening for major depressive disorder  in adolescents ages 12 to 18 years and found there was not enough evidence to recommend for or against  screening in children age 11 years and younger. To view the recommendation and the evidence on which it is  based, please go tohttp://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/depression-in-children-and-adolescents-screening1. A fact sheet that explains  the final recommendation in plain language is also available. The final recommendation statement can also be  found in the February 9, 2016 online issues of Annals of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.