How well do providers screen for depression and suicide in adolescents?

Abstract

<p>Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds. Research&nbsp;indicates that suicide can be prevented with early screening and treatment. More than&nbsp;50% of patients suffering from some form of mental disorder are seen only by their&nbsp;primary care provider. This data suggests that screening measures within the primary&nbsp;care setting can be instrumental in identifying risk behaviors among adolescents who<br />may be considered at risk for depression and suicide. This descriptive, comparative,&nbsp;quantitative study examined the documentation of primary care physicians,&nbsp;pediatricians and nurse practitioners regarding high risk behavioral indicators that&nbsp;could signal depression or suicide potential in their adolescent patient population&nbsp;(aged 12-17). A random, convenience sample of 102 charts was performed. The conceptual framework as defined by the Quality Assurance Model Using Research&nbsp;(QAMUR) was utilized. Descriptive statistics revealed that all provider types documented some level of risk behavior indicator assessment. A significant&nbsp;difference was found in the number of risk behavior indicators documented between&nbsp;primary care physicians and pediatricians (F=2.80, p=0.072) and between primary&nbsp;care physicians and nurse practitioners (F=2.80, p=0.026). No significant difference was found between the mean number of risk behaviors documented by nurse&nbsp;practitioners and pediatricians.</p>