Universal Anxiety, Depression Screening Recommended for Many U.S. Kids
Children 8 and older should get anxiety screenings even when they don’t have any symptoms of this mood disorder, according to new guidelines from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force.The recommendations, published in JAMA, mark the first time the Task Force has urged kids to get screened for anxiety. In separate recommendations published in JAMA, the Task Force reaffirmed its previous advice, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, that children 12 and older get screenings in primary care for depression, but not for suicide risk.“The Task Force reviewed the evidence on screening for anxiety, depression, and suicide risk to provide primary care professionals with guidance on how they can help support the mental health of children and adolescents,” said Task Force member Martha Kubik, PhD, RN, a nursing professor at…