Mary Pintea – Staff Writer

mvp5879@psu.edu

The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has begun drafting a new
recommendation concerning testing for anxiety disorders in adults. According to their mission
statement, the USPST is an independent collective of medical professionals that makes evidence-
based recommendations that will benefit public health.
Their latest draft suggests that all adults under the age of 65 should be screened for anxiety
related disorders–including pregnant and postpartum individuals. As it currently stands, doctors
are only required to screen their patient if a history of mental illness is present, whether that be in
familial or personal history.
USPSTF cites data from 2001-2002, stating that anxiety disorders had a prevalence of 26.4
percent for men and 40.4 percent for women. Presumably, this number has only grown since the
beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with individuals feeling overwhelmed by the return to
semi-normalcy.
Though the USPSTF recommends said screening, they have not suggested what an appropriate
means of recourse is in terms of treatment. With the anticipation of more individuals requesting
vital services like therapies or medications, it is unclear how doctors and mental health
professionals will go about the referral process. In the world of mental health, time is valuable –
especially in the prevention of anxiety-related disorders.
In addition to their recommendation for anxiety screenings, the USPSTF has also suggested
depression screenings. They cite the increasing number of suicides– which has seen an 88
percent uptick over the last decade– as a factor in this decision. Epidemiologically, depression
can cause a multitude of issues, including cardiovascular diseases, comorbid mental illnesses,
and increased mortality rates. As with anxiety testing, this includes postpartum individuals, who
are at an elevated risk for depression.
Overall, the goal of these recommendations is to get help to the individuals who need it most,
especially before a disease can manifest in severity.