Clinical Prevention

Depression is a very serious disease that is often overlooked in a clinical setting. The patient population associated with depression ranges from children to the elderly. However, this specific report will address the clinical prevention techniques for nonpregnant adults over the age of 18. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in their Task Force Final Recommendation 2016 edition, “ depression is one of the leading causes of disability in adults. It affects men and women of all ages, races, and social and economic groups” (Final Update Summary 1) Patients at a higher risk for depression include, “persons with other psychiatric disorders, including substance misuse; persons with a family history of depression; persons with
For their official recommendation, they gave “when staff-assisted depression care supports’ are in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up,” a “B” grade, whereas, if staff-assisted depression care supports are not present a “C” grade. Perhaps, this recommendation is due to the fact that clinicians do not have to have all the pressure of the diagnosis upon them and they can have support of another staff for additional follow-up and an accurate diagnosis. There is no harm or cost associated with screening for depression among adults and thus makes it an obvious test to perform during a patient evaluation especially patient’s considered high-risk. The barriers associated with the prevention of depression in the population are more correlated with the follow-up of a patients rather than the diagnosis of the disease. In USPSTF’s article, Primary Care Screening for Depression in Adults, they state that “40% to 67% of patients discontinue their antidepressants medication within 3 months, and few receive adequate follow-up” (O’Connor 800). These findings support the USPSTF’s recommendation of screening with an additional staff present to provide the best treatment and follow-up for preventative care of