PATIENTS with illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease should be screened for depression, according to new NHS guidance published today.

Men and women with long-term health problems are known to be two or three times more likely to be depressed than those who are healthy.

As a result, GPs should screen for depression by asking a series of questions rather than just focussing on physical aspects of an illness, according to guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Research has shown that treating depression in people with chronic health problems can improve their symptoms.

The new guidance sets out two key questions patients should be asked if a doctor suspects they may be at risk of depression.

They are: “During the last month, have you often been bothered by feeling down depressed or hopeless? . . . or have you had little interest in doing things?”

If the patient says yes, the doctor should refer a patient on to a specialist or, if they are trained in mental health assessment, ask a further three questions.