New Study on Depression Screening Fuels Controversy Over Bill

A recent study by UK researchers found that depression screening is
both inaccurate and unhelpful, fueling controversy over a Senate bill
called the "Mothers Act." Critics say the bill, S.1375, is dangerous
to mothers and newborns and a violation of informed consent, despite
being promoted under the guise of ensuring that new mothers and their
families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for
symptoms, and provided with essential services.

Dr. Chris Manning, Chief Executive of Primary Care Mental Health
Education, stated that he was not surprised by the results of the new
depression screening study, published in the April issue of the
Canadian Association Medical Journal. He warned that population
screening was fraught with problems and would produce any number of
false positives, resulting in inappropriate treatment and
over-medicalization. Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Dr. Joseph
Glenmullen also warns about the problem with depression
questionnaires, stating that they “may look scientific,” but “when one
examines the questions asked and the scales used, they are utterly
subjective measures.”