Bottom Line: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents ages 12 to 18 and concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to make a recommendation about screening for MDD in children age 11 or younger and of screening for suicide risk in children and adolescents. Major depressive disorder in children and adolescents is strongly associated with recurrent depression in adulthood, other mental disorders, and increased risk for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide completion. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 19. The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services and this recommendation is consistent with its 2014 statement on screening for suicide risk in adolescents and 2016 statement on screening for MDD in children and adolescents.
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(doi:10.1001/jama.2022.16946)
