Depression

AAP Endorses Updated Youth Depression Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has endorsed an update of the Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC).

The guidelines, which are aimed towards the management of depression in primary care among youth aged 10 to 21 years, include the following recommendations:

  • Adolescents aged 12 years and older should receive an annual screening for major depressive disorder or associated depressive disorders with a formal self-report screening tool.
  • Primary care clinicians and administration should ensure that clinical settings are organized to reflect best practices in integrated and/or collaborative care models.
  • Following a diagnosis of mild depression, clinicians should consider a period of active support and monitoring prior to initiation of evidence-based treatment.
  • Adolescents with moderate or severe depression or complicating factors and/or conditions such as coexisting substance abuse or psychosis should be considered for consultation with a mental health specialist.
  • Primary care clinicians should recommend scientifically tested and proven treatments whenever possible to meet treatment goals. These may include psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy for adolescents, and antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, etc).

 

Click here to view the full versions of part 1 and part 2 of the guidelines.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

1. Zuckerbrot RA, Cheung AH, Jensen PS, Stein REK, Laraque D; GLAD-PC STEERING GROUP. Guidelines for adolescent depression in primary care (GLAD-PC): part I. Practice, preparation, identification, assessment, and initial management [Published online February 26, 2018]. Pediatrics. doi:10.1542/peds.2017-4081.

2. Cheung AH, Zuckerbrot RA, Jensen PS, Laraque D, Stein REK; GLAD-PC STEERING GROUP. Guidelines for adolescent depression in primary care (GLAD-PC): part II. Treatment and ongoing management [Published online February 26, 2018]. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-4082.