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Depression Screening for All Teens Worries Parents

Task force calls for adolescent testing with focus on psychotherapy instead of drugs

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 26, 2009 1:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A federal task force recommendation that all adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 be screened for depression is causing controversy among parents and pediatricians, the Washington Post reports. Critics fear the amount of antidepressant drugs prescribed to teens will rise massively, although the Preventive Services Task Force stressed that screening only makes sense when specialized care such as therapy is available, instead of a one-size-fits-all drug approach.

"We wanted to recommend against the idea that doctors would do a screen and pull out their prescription pad," said a senior member of the task force. "The recommendation says you have to do really close clinical monitoring. The best treatment is psychotherapy." The director of a national screening program—who estimates testing raises red flags for some 25% of teens—stressed that parents still need to consent for tests to be administered.

Critics fear widespread screening of teens for mental health problems could result in far more prescriptions of antidepressants, possibly at the behest of drug companies.
Critics fear widespread screening of teens for mental health problems could result in far more prescriptions of antidepressants, possibly at the behest of drug companies.   (©Publicly Sc(?)lped)
Directors of TeenScreen, a mental health screening program, say around 16% of teens evaluated last year were encouraged to have a full psychological evaluation.
Directors of TeenScreen, a mental health screening program, say around 16% of teens evaluated last year were encouraged to have a full psychological evaluation.   (Shutter Stock)
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Pediatrics has not really owned up to the fact this is a major health problem in kids that they need to be responsible for. - Thomas Boat, dean for health affairs at the University of Cincinnati

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Derni
May 26, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
but if we were screening for aids or some other disease it would be okay? one more bit of evidence that indicates the stigma associated with mental ILLNESS-a disease-don't ever accuse human beings of being too smart.
drlarrymitchell
May 26, 2009 6:41 AM CDT
Long live the New Flesh.
Count4Something
May 26, 2009 1:48 AM CDT
I think this is a great idea. Too many kids are hanging themselves from abuse from bullying kids and this may be one way to catch it. Kids today do suffer from depression more than ever before. The pressures of fitting in to the picture that society portrays and keeping up with the Jones is bad enough on them. I pray this goes through for the safety of the children. It does not mean that the children will need medication. It means that the child will be able to open up about their problems and these problems may be able to be solved without meds.

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depression • antidepressant • mental health • pediatrics • pediatricians • adolescents • teenager • suicide prevention • U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

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