Screening adults for depression in primary care: A position statement of the American College of Preventive Medicine

Abstract

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) maintains that primary care providers should screen all adults for depression and that all primary care providers should have systems in place, either within the primary care setting itself or through collaborations with mental health professionals, to ensure the accurate diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The earliest and best opportunities to identify depression are in the clinics of primary care providers. Thus, the ACPM supports the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), and further suggests that all primary care practices should have such systems of care in place.