Before listing, ask two screening questions: over the past two weeks, have you often felt down or hopeless, and have you often felt nervous or unable to stop worrying? A yes to either warrants a fuller look and a conversation about expectations. Record psychotropic medication in the pre-operative note, and involve the patient's GP where treatment could be optimised before surgery.
- Use the two-item PHQ-2 and GAD-2 questions at the listing visit.
- Record current psychotropic medication in the operation note and consent discussion.
- Set expectations with patients who screen positive: they improve, but on average less.
- Offer referral for mental health support rather than delaying indefinitely.
Why it matters
A two-minute screen identifies the patients most likely to need revision.
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