Postpartum Mental Health

Diagnosing postpartum depression: can we do better?

Fergerson SS, Jamieson DJ, Lindsay M

Published May 17, 2002 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 186(5), 899-902
DOI 10.1067/mob.2002.123404 PMID 12015507

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale versus routine clinical evaluation to detect postpartum depression among a low-income inner-city population and to evaluate risk factors associated with a positive score on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Study Design

On the basis of the day of the month, all English-speaking patients who were seen for their postpartum visit were assigned either to routine clinical evaluation for postpartum depression or routine clinical evaluation plus the use of the 10-question Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Results

During the 7-week study period, 72 women participated in the study: 35 women in the routine evaluation group and 37 women in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale group. Women who completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were significantly more likely than those in the routine evaluation group to be identified as being at risk for depression: 11 of 37 women (30%) versus 0 of 35 women (P <.001). A failed attempt at breast-feeding was associated with an increased risk of a score of > or =10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (relative risk, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.03-13.89).

Conclusion

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale appears to be a valuable and efficient tool for the identification of patients who are at risk for postpartum depression.

Topics

By this author

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Postpartum › Mental Health › Depression Screening · Research Methods › Measurement and Statistics › Instrument Development and Validation
Sarah Smallwood Fergerson, Denise J Jamieson, Michael Lindsay
S Fergerson, D Jamieson, Mike Lindsay, M Lindsay
PMID 12015507 12015507 DOI 10.1067/mob.2002.123404 10.1067/mob.2002.123404 Fergerson et al. 2002, Fergerson 2002