Screening for depressive symptoms.

QUESTION: Several of my female patients of reproductive age seem to be depressed. Is there a simple tool I can use to screen them? ANSWER: Motherisk is using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to screen for depression. This simple questionnaire is filled out by women while in the waiting room. Using this tool has helped us identify large numbers of women who are at risk of, but have not been diagnosed with, depression. We believe family physicians should use this screening tool extensively with women of reproductive age.