Identifying Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents Through Primary Care Screening

This study provided screening for early detection and treatment of anxiety and depression in adolescents from a rural county in Northwest Missouri. The study cohort was from a rural primary care clinic and comprised 44 adolescents, aged 12 to 18, who had symptoms of anxiety and depression, or had not been previously diagnosed. Screening for anxiety and depression and initiating treatment in adolescent decreases the possibility of detrimental effects of depression and anxiety extending into adulthood. For the health care system, it fosters decreased cost of office visits for somatic symptoms, lessens strain on the health care system for inpatient treatment, and increases quality of care for a vulnerable population. •Anxiety and depression screening in adolescents in primary care provides early detection.•Decrease in prescore to postscore was significant with treatment.•Improvement in symptoms with early treatment.