. 2021 Nov 23;21:234. doi: 10.1186/s12902-021-00890-8

Table 1.

Recommended screening for depression, negative body image and eating disorders [136]

Assessment of anxiety and or depressive symptoms involves assessment of risk factors, symptoms and severity. Symptoms can be screened according to regional guidelines, or by using the following stepped approach:

Step 1: Initial questions could include: Over the last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?

• feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?

• little interest or pleasure in doing things?

• feeling nervous, anxious or on edge?

• not being able to stop or control worrying?

Criteria: If any of the responses are positive, further screening should involve:

● assessment of risk factors and symptoms using age, culturally and regionally appropriate tools, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) or the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD7) and/or refer to an appropriate professional for further assessment.

Negative body image, can be screened according to regional guidelines or by using the following stepped approach:

Step 1: Initial questions could include:

• Do you worry a lot about the way you look and wish you could think about it less?

• On a typical day, do you spend more than 1 hour per day worrying about your appearance? (More than 1 hour a day is considered excessive)

• What specific concerns do you have about your appearance?

• What effect does it have on your life?

• Does it make it hard to do your work or be with your friends and family?

Criteria: If an issue is identified, health professionals could further assess by:

• Identifying any focus of concern of the patient and respond appropriately

• Assessing the level of depression and/or anxiety

• Identifying distortion of body image or disordered eating

Eating disorders and disordered eating can be screened using the following stepped approach.

Step 1: The SCOFF (Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food) screening tool can be used or initial screening questions can include:

◦ Does your weight affect the way you feel about yourself?

◦ Are you satisfied with your eating patterns?

Criteria: If the SCOFF tool or any of these questions are positive, further screening should involve:

◦ assessment of risk factors and symptoms using age, culturally and regionally appropriate tools;

◦ referral to an appropriate health professional for further mental health assessment and diagnostic interview. If this is not the patient’s usual healthcare provider, inform the primary care physician.