Clinical question — Is there an accurate question to use for depression screening in primary care?
The evidence. Screening for depression in primary care with two verbally asked questions: cross-sectional study. BMJ 2003; 327: 1144-1146.1
Background. Undiagnosed depression can lead to long-term disability and yet it is often under-recognised in general practice. It has been estimated that up to half of patients with treatable depression in primary care remain undetected.2
To date, two approaches have been advocated to seek to improve the recognition of depression in primary care: the use of depression screening questionnaires or the detailed evaluation of patients at increased risk of depression (for example, those with chronic medical illnesses, chronic pain syndromes, recent life changes/stresses, fair/poor self-rated health or unexplained physical symptoms).3
Unfortunately, the various screening questionnaires available are often not easily accommodated during the course of a busy GP surgery. There is a need for a simple, but accurate, question to be identified that could be applied quickly and easily in the context of a routine consultation.
Study design. A consecutive series …