Panel advises depression screening for US teens

CHICAGO (AP) - An influential government-appointed medical panel acknowledges that nearly 2 million American teens suffer from depression.
    It’s urging doctors to routinely screen all teens for the condition.
    The group recommends screening tests even for kids without symptoms. It cites two questionnaires that focus on depression tip-offs, such as mood, anxiety, appetite and substance abuse.
    The U.S. Preventive Task Force sets guidelines for doctors on a host of health issues. Its recommendations go farther than the American Academy of Pediatrics’ own guidance for teen depression screening.
    Evidence shows that detailed but simple questionnaires can accurately diagnose depression in primary-care settings such as a pediatrician’s office.

    On the Net:
    Preventive Services Task Force: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/USpstfix.htm
    American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/
    American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: http://www.aacap.org/