Opportunities for Early Identification: Implementing Universal Depression Screening with a Pathway to Suicide Risk Screening in a Pediatric Health Care System

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the implementation process and assess results of a large-scale universal depression screening program with pathways to suicide risk screening in a pediatric integrated delivery network.

Study design: This retrospective study analyzes depression and suicide risk screening data for 95 613 patients ages 12-17 years.

Results: Of the 95 613 adolescent patients who were screened for depression, 2.4% (2266) screened positive for risk for moderate-severe depression (>10 Patient Health Questionnaire; 9-item version) and 4.1% (3942) endorsed elevated suicide risk (≥1 Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale). Overall, 51% of screened patients who present with a primary psychiatric concern screened positive for elevated risk of suicide (2132). Two percent of screened patients who presented with a primary medical concern screened positive for elevated risk of suicide. Nearly one-half (45.9%) of all elevated suicide risk screenings were from patients with a primary medical concern.

Conclusions: A large-scale universal depression screening program with a pathway to identify elevated suicide risk was implemented in a pediatric health care system using the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. This screening program identified youth with moderate-severe depression and elevated risk for suicide with and without presenting psychiatric concerns across service settings.

Keywords: implementation; prevention.