Screening for Depression in Hospitalized Medical Patients

Abstract

Depression among hospitalized patients is often unrecognized, undiagnosed, and therefore untreated. Little is known about the feasibility of screening for depression during hospitalization, or whether depression is associated with poorer outcomes, longer hospital stays, and higher readmission rates. We searched PubMed and PsycINFO for published, peer-reviewed articles in English (1990English ( -2016 using search terms designed to capture studies that tested the performance of depression screening tools in inpatient settings and studies that examined associations between depression detected during hospitalization and clinical or utilization outcomes. Two investigators reviewed each full-text article and extracted data. The prevalence of depression ranged from 5% to 60%, with a median of 33%, among hospitalized patients. Several screening tools identified showed high sensitivity and specificity, even when self-administered by patients or when abbreviated versions were administered by individuals without formal training. With regard to outcomes, studies from several individual hospitals found depression to be associated with poorer functional outcomes, worse physical health, and returns to the hospital after discharge. These findings suggest that depression screening may be feasible in the inpatient setting, and that more research is warranted to determine whether screening for and treating depression during hospitalization can improve patient outcomes.

Implementing and feasibility testing depression screening using the electronic medical record for patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the hospital

“…One study reported a low sensitivity for annual screening in identifying depression among patients with coronary artery disease, which may be true for patients with diabetes as well (Shankman, Nadelson, McGowan, Sovari, & Vidovich, ). Another researcher recommended screening for depression in hospitalized patients with medical illnesses (IsHak et al, ).…”

“…Outcomes of this study uphold the role of healthcare professionals in recognizing depression in hospitalized patients with diabetes. Any team members can administer a screening questionnaire for depression with the proper training (IsHak et al, ). Nurses, healthcare providers, clinical social workers, case managers, and other professionals directly involved in patient care need ongoing education on the increased risk of depression in patients with diabetes and the warning signs of depression.…”

The Evaluation of Medical Inpatients Who Are Admitted on Long‐Term Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain

“…31 As such, 3 hospital setting/acute pain guidelines and 3 chronic pain guidelines recommend screening for mental health issues including anxiety and depression. 13,14,16,20,22,23 Several depression screening instruments have been validated among inpatients, 32 and there are validated single-item, self-administered instruments for both depression and anxiety (Table 3). 32,33 Although obtaining a comprehensive history before making treatment decisions is ideal, some patients present in extremis.…”

Exploring the Utility of Community-Generated Social Media Content for Detecting Depression: An Analytical Study on Instagram (Preprint)

“…The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends depression screening in the general adult population, particularly in pregnant and postpartum women [3]. Screening in hospital settings and medical practices may aid providers in identifying depression; however, screening methods need to be efficiently and feasibly implemented in medical care settings [4,5].…”