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Pediatric Primary Care Depression Screening Using Phq-9 Modified For Teens, Aksel Narvaez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

The aim of this evidence-based project is to improve depression screening among adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 using the PHQ-9 Modified Scale for Teens in a rural pediatric primary care clinic in Southern California. Depression is a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality among the pediatric population. The literature supports the use of depression screening tools in a variety of settings, including pediatric primary care; their use has shown an improvement in detection of depression in adolescents. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both recommend the use of tools …