Identifying Depression

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  It is estimated that one out of eight people suffer from depression.

No age group is immune. In fact recent Medicare-related legislation and guidelines for Accountable Care Organizations are focusing on encouraging physicians to try and identify depression in their patients as a way to help them. Two groups, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, are trying to help identify depression in women of child bearing age by encouraging doctors to take time to see how mom is doing while their child is coming in for a physical or immunizations.

Infants and young children see pediatricians and family physicians a lot and their moms might only see their OB-GYN on a less frequent basis. A pediatrician can identify problems and suggest that mom see her OB-GYN and a family physician can actually see mom often on the same day. This is a very creative way to identify depression and help get treatment underway.