Screening for Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition. It affects how a person feels, their relationships, and their ability to function day-to-day. In 2019, it was thought that around 280 million people around the world had depression. This is expected to stay high for the next 10 years. Finding depression early can be hard. Some people talk about feeling tired or having pain rather than saying they feel sad. Using short questionnaires in GP surgeries might help find depression earlier. This means people can get treatment before their symptoms get worse. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) looked at the evidence for screening everyone for depression in 2014 and again in 2020. Both reviews found little proof that screening the whole population improves health or reduces deaths. For this reason, national screening was not recommended. The UK NSC now wants to see if there is new research. They will carry out a review to answer two questions:

1. What evidence is there about treating mild depression found through screening compared to mild depression found in other ways?

2. What evidence is there that screening reduces depression and deaths?

This review will include studies published since 2019. Researchers will search several scientific databases. They will include studies that follow people over time and report on symptoms, quality of life, or survival. The results will give an up-to-date picture of what is known about screening for depression. They will also show where more research is needed. This information will help the UK NSC decide if a more detailed review on screening for depression should be carried out.