Screening for depression in emergency department patients

David Hoyer; Elizabeth David

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.05.004

Screening for depression in emergency department patients

J Emerg Med. 2012 Nov;43(5):786-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.05.004. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Authors

David Hoyer¹, Elizabeth David

Affiliation

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.

PMID: 19022607
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.05.004

Abstract

Background: Depression is a common disease, yet it is not commonly studied in the Emergency Medicine literature.

Study objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of emergency department (ED) patients who have the symptoms of depression.

Design: This was a prospective observational study performed at two EDs over a 9-month period. Adult patients were screened for depression symptoms by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition criteria.

Results: There were 505 patients screened from April through December, 2004. Of the 505 patients, 109 (21.6%) screened positive for the symptoms of depression. The prevalence of positive screens was similar at each ED.

Conclusion: About 1 in 5 ED patients may be suffering with depression.

MeSH terms

Adult
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
Female
Hospitals, Urban
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
United States / epidemiology