Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Screening for Mental Health and Addiction

Abstract

Background and Objective. Screening for mental health and addiction disorders is a priority due to the rising prevalence of these conditions. This clinical practice guideline (CPG) sought to systematically synthesize evidence to address screening for mental health and addiction disorders among children, adolescents, and adults.

Methods. This CPG followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to CPG development recommended by the Department of Health, including GRADE Adolopment, a systematic process of adapting evidence summaries, and the GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) framework. The Steering Committee set the objectives, scope, target, and audience. The Steering Committee also led the formulation of clinical questions, and prioritized and finalized the questions after gathering inputs from relevant stakeholders. The Technical Working Group reviewed and synthesized the evidence, and a multisectoral Consensus Panel reviewed the evidence summaries and formulated recommendations through a formal consensus method, and the external reviewers evaluated the final recommendations. This CPG was completed in June 2022.

Results. The CPG provides ten (10) recommendations on nine (9) prioritized questions on mental health and addiction. Screening for depression among high-risk groups, anxiety in adults, substance use disorders in adults and adolescents, depression and anxiety among children and adolescents, and stress and sleep disturbances as risk factors for possible mental health or addiction disorders were recommended. Recommendations were made AGAINST screening for dementia in older adults (60 and above) using standardized instruments and substance use disorders using standardized drug tests.

Conclusion. The CPG provided recommendations on the prioritized clinical questions in the screening for certain conditions on mental health and addiction. The recommendations are based on the appraisal of the best available evidence.