| Learning Objective #1: Determine the predictive ability of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in identifying mothers at risk of developing postpartum depression | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Determine the most appropriate time to screen for postpartum depression |
Initial support for the early identification of women at-risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD) has been demonstrated through correlations between Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores in the immediate postpartum period and 6 weeks postpartum. However, no study has thoroughly examined the use of the EPDS as an identification tool for secondary preventive interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and stability of low maternal mood in the first 8 weeks postpartum and to evaluate the predictive power of the EPDS when administered at 1 week postpartum. A population-based sample of 594 mothers completed the EPDS at 1, 4, and 8 weeks postpartum. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive power of the 1-week EPDS in relation to identifying mothers at 4 and 8 weeks was determined using diverse EPDS thresholds. The predictive power of the 1-week EPDS was further assessed using odds ratios and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results from this study provide health professionals with (1) a description of the predictive power of antenatal screening tools, (2) an assessment of the predictive power of the EPDS, and (3) information regarding the feasibility of using the EPDS as a community screening tool in general public health nursing practice.
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