For anxiety screening in adults, including pregnant and postpartum patients, USPSTF guidance recommends screening which group?

For anxiety screening in adults, including pregnant and postpartum patients, USPSTF guidance recommends screening which group?

• A. Adults 64 years and younger, including pregnant and postpartum patients
• B. Adults 65 years and older
• C. Adults with chronic medical conditions only
• D. All adults regardless of age

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is identifying which adults USPSTF recommends to screen for anxiety disorders. The best choice is to screen adults up to 64 years of age, and this group explicitly includes pregnant and postpartum patients. This reflects the guideline's focus on routine identification in primary care for adults in this age range, with special attention to perinatal mental health because anxiety can significantly affect both mother and child. Screening this group allows for a prompt diagnostic evaluation and access to appropriate treatment or referral, which can improve outcomes. It also explains why broader screening of all adults regardless of age isn’t the specified scope, and why limiting screening to those with chronic medical conditions would miss many with anxiety disorders who don’t have such conditions. Use of a brief, validated screening tool (like GAD-7) followed by a full assessment and treatment plan is typically the next step after a positive screen.

The main concept here is identifying which adults USPSTF recommends to screen for anxiety disorders. The best choice is to screen adults up to 64 years of age, and this group explicitly includes pregnant and postpartum patients. This reflects the guideline's focus on routine identification in primary care for adults in this age range, with special attention to perinatal mental health because anxiety can significantly affect both mother and child. Screening this group allows for a prompt diagnostic evaluation and access to appropriate treatment or referral, which can improve outcomes. It also explains why broader screening of all adults regardless of age isn’t the specified scope, and why limiting screening to those with chronic medical conditions would miss many with anxiety disorders who don’t have such conditions. Use of a brief, validated screening tool (like GAD-7) followed by a full assessment and treatment plan is typically the next step after a positive screen.