Identifying the blue patient: preoperative screening for depression

Bradley A Fritz; Katherine J Holzer

doi:10.1016/j.bja.2024.04.012

Identifying the blue patient: preoperative screening for depression

Br J Anaesth. 2024 Jul;133(1):7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.04.012. Epub 2024 May 22.

Authors

Bradley A Fritz¹, Katherine J Holzer²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.

PMID: 38879267
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.04.012

Abstract

Preoperative depression is an underappreciated comorbidity that has important implications for postoperative outcomes. Screening for symptoms of depression before surgery can identify patients with or without a previous diagnosis of depression who could benefit from perioperative interventions to improve mood. Preoperative screening programmes are feasible to implement, although care must be taken to ensure that patients who are most likely to benefit are included.

Keywords: depression; mental health; mood; preoperative assessment; screening.

Publication types

Editorial

MeSH terms

Depression* / diagnosis
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
Humans
Mass Screening / methods
Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
Preoperative Care* / methods