Depression in Primary Care
Depression affects 20–25% of adult Americans yet primary care physicians fail to identify as many as 30–50% of depressed patients. Early, systematic screening closes that gap — and the PHQ-9 is the most widely validated instrument for doing so.
The USPSTF and AAFP recommend screening all adults, including pregnant and postpartum women. IMG Residency automates the entire workflow so no patient is missed.
Two-Step Approach
Screening starts with two questions about the past month — persistent low mood, and loss of interest or pleasure. A positive answer to either triggers the full PHQ-9, which scores symptom severity and directly guides treatment decisions.
- PHQ-9 — validated for adults 18 and older
- PHQ-9A — validated for adolescents ages 12–17
Severity Scoring
Scores map directly to clinical action: minimal (0–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), moderately severe (15–19), and severe (20–27). IMG Residency displays each tier with color coding inside the patient note before the encounter starts.
Treatment Goals
The two primary goals are full remission and relapse prevention. Combination therapy consistently outperforms medication or supportive care alone. Patients with a single episode should continue antidepressants 6–12 months post-remission; those with recurrent episodes need three or more years of maintenance.
With IMG Residency, patients complete the PHQ-9 on any tablet in the waiting room. Scored, color-coded results appear in the chart before the provider enters — zero extra steps.