Screening all adults for depression during their annual medical exam would be a first step in treating millions of Americans who suffer from the condition.
The team from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality emphasized that doctors should also be able to treat their patients with antidepressants or recommend other approaches such as behavioral therapy, and then follow-up with patients if the benefits of the initial screen are to be realized.
The recommendation marks a change from the previous statement issued in 1996. This paper concluded there was not enough evidence to advise regular formal screening. Instead, doctors were encouraged to recognize symptoms of depression such as lethargy and a loss of interest in people or activities previously enjoyed.
In the past 8 years, however, studies have shown that patients can benefit from a regular simple screening and follow-up.
No single screening tool or procedure is more effective than another. Simply asking patients how they are doing may be enough. For instance, a patient who admits to feeling hopeless or receiving little pleasure from normally enjoyable activities may be a candidate for more in-depth diagnostic tests.
According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, up to one half of the 5% to 9% of adult patients who suffer from depression go undiagnosed. Women, patients with chronic disorders, unemployed people and those with a family history of depression are most at risk.
Annals of Internal Medicine 2002;136:760-764
The World Health Organization identified major depression as the fourth leading cause of worldwide disease in 1990, causing more disability than either heart attacks or strokes.
Depression is indeed a serious problem in our culture.
Unfortunately, the traditional medical paradigm has nearly completely capitulated to the drug companies and the nearly universal solution is to offer drugs for the problem.
I believe this is where the problem is, the offering of a solution that does not treat the cause.
Rather than criticize the USPTSTF recommendations I applaud their efforts to widen the awareness of this devastating problem.
The report is quite clear about only using the two screening questions as screening questions. If they are positive then one would go to a more comprehensive list of symptoms such as the one I have compiled from a book that I am in the process of writing.
Rather than relying on the two simple questions that the task force recommended, it would seem far wiser to use an inventory of symptoms to screen for this major problem.
With respect to treatment we can virtually eliminate the use of antidepressants with some basic approaches.
Of course one will want to follow an optimal eating plan and exercise. It will be very important to optimize omega-3 oils. If you have depression reading Dr. Stoll's book on this topic. It could save your life.
Beyond those basics though, it is quite clear that energy psychology offers some of the most current effective tools to address depression.
Most know that I am a strong fan of nutritional support, but it is my experience that unresolved emotional trauma causes far more disease than eating French fries and doughnuts.
I have long ago lost count of the people who were eating near perfect diets yet were sick with profound health problems.
So the solution is to:
There are many versions of energy psychology that will work, but my current favorite is EFT. Gary Craig has links on his site that will help you identify clinicians that can provide EFT for you.
Later this year I hope to compile another list that is actually rated by people who have seen these clinicians. It will be part of an overall comprehensive strategy to transform the paradigm.
You might also want to consider my newly revised EFT workshop videos that will provide you with the basics of how EFT can be used for treating depression. The videos are clearly not a substitute for an experienced professional in the treatment of major depression but hundreds have found them useful to help their depressive episodes.
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