The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is an independent panel that makes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screening tests, counseling about healthy behaviors, and preventive medications. Each year, USPSTF identifies and reports evidence gaps that deserve further examination in order to develop recommendations. For 2014, the task force focused on evidence gaps related to the care of children and adolescents. Priorities for research include mental health conditions and substance abuse, including evidence for the prevention of major depressive order, suicide risk, tobacco use, and alcohol use.
