Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults, US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) uses the most strict criteria and expansive view of impact and outcomes to make recommendations. They just published: "Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults, US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement"  June 20, 2023 JAMA. 2023;329(23):2057-2067. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.9297

For asymptomatic adults 19 years or older, including pregnant and postpartum persons (Older adults are defined as those 65 years or older.) The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that screening for Major Depressive Disorder - MDD - in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults, has a moderate net benefit. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient on the benefit and harms of screening for suicide risk in adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults.

Recommendation  The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the adult population, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults. (B recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for suicide risk in the adult population, including pregnant and postpartum persons and older adults. (I statement)

Here is evidence based medical science at its best - and at its worst. Taken as a view from the clouds, on a population basis, there is no published evidence that screening for suicide in the general population has a significant impact. Obviously this does not apply to the bullied, sullen teenager, the weepy widow, or the sad gun enthusiast sitting before me. Don't get confused by science!

Also even though the USPSTF has recognized in other publications that a history of child maltreatment trauma increases the risk of suicide 300%, in this analysis family violence and trauma are only briefly mentioned but not discussed.