Children may soon be routinely screened by their pediatricians for anxiety and depression, if the advice of a panel of medical experts takes hold.
For the first time ever, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has called for all children ages 8 to 18 to be screened for anxiety and all children ages 12 to 18 to be screened for depression.
“Developing an anxiety disorder during childhood or adolescence increases the likelihood of a future anxiety disorder (the same disorder or another anxiety disorder) or secondary depression,” the task force writes in the recommendation. (Find the full report at uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.) “These mental health conditions have long-term effects that may include chronic mental and physical or somatic health conditions, psychosocial functional impairment, increased risk for substance abuse, and premature mortality.”
