The factor structure of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale among perinatal high-risk and community samples in London

AbstractTimely and accurate detection of perinatal mental health problems is essential for the wellbeing of both mother and child. Growing evidence has suggested that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is not a unidimensional measure of perinatal depression, but can be used to screen for anxiety disorders. We aimed to assess the factor structure of the EPDS in 3 different groups of women: n = 266 pregnant women at high-risk of depression (“Perinatal Stress Study”), n = 471 pregnant women from a community sample, and n = 637 early postnatal women from a community sample (“developing Human Connectome Project”). Exploratory factor analysis (40% of each sample) and confirmatory factor analysis (60% of each sample) were performed. The relationship between EPDS scores and history of mental health concerns was investigated. Results suggested that a 3-factor model (depression, anxiety, and anhedonia) is the most appropriate across groups. The anxiety subscale (EPDS-3A) emerged consistently and was related to maternal history of anxiety disorders in the prenatal sample (W = 6861, p < 0.001). EPDS total score was related to history of mental health problems in both the prenatal (W = 12,185, p < 0.001) and postnatal samples (W = 30,044, p < 0.001). In both high-risk and community samples in the perinatal period, the EPDS appears to consist of depression, anxiety, and anhedonia subscales. A better understanding of the multifactorial structure of the EPDS can inform diagnosis and management of women in the prenatal and postnatal period. Further research is required to validate the EPDS-3A as a screening tool for anxiety.

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Can the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale be used to screen for anxiety in the perinatal period? A factor analysis of high-risk and community samples

10.31234/osf.io/dyvej ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alexandra Lautarescu ◽

Suresh Victor ◽

Alex Lau-Zhu ◽

Serena J. Counsell ◽

Anthony David Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Community Sample ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Maternal History ◽

History Of ◽

The Relationship

Background: Timely and accurate detection of perinatal mental health problems is essential for the wellbeing of both mother and child. Growing evidence has suggested that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is not a unidimensional measure of perinatal depression, but can be used to screen for anxiety disorders.Methods: We aimed to assess the factor structure of the EPDS in 3 different groups of women: n=266 pregnant women at high-risk of depression (“Perinatal Stress Study”), n=471 pregnant women from a community sample, and n=637 early postnatal women from a community sample (“developing Human Connectome Project”). Exploratory factor analysis (40% of each sample) and confirmatory factor analysis (60% of each sample) were performed. The relationship between EPDS scores and history of mental health was investigated. Results: Results suggested that a 3-factor model (depression, anxiety, and anhedonia) is the most appropriate across groups. The anxiety subscale (EPDS 3A) emerged consistently and was related to maternal history of anxiety disorders. Total EPDS score was related to history of mental health problems. Limitations: Although data were collected on maternal history of mental health, there was no standardized diagnostic interview administered to assess the relationship between EPDS 3A and a current diagnosis of anxiety disorder. Conclusions: A better understanding of the multi-factorial structure of the EPDS can inform diagnosis and management of women in the prenatal and postnatal period. The EPDS 3A could be used to provide initial screening information for anxiety in situations where a validated anxiety questionnaire is not administered.

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Factor Structure of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in a Sample of Postpartum Slovak Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126298 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6298

Author(s):

Zuzana Škodová ◽

Ľubica Bánovčinová ◽

Eva Urbanová ◽

Marián Grendár ◽

Martina Bašková

Keyword(s):

Factor Structure ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Three Dimensional Model

Background: Postpartum depression has a negative impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Methods: A paper and pencil version of the 10-item EPDS questionnaire was administered personally to 577 women at baseline during their stay in hospital on the second to fourth day postpartum (age, 30.6 ± 4.9 years; 73.5% vaginal births vs. 26.5% operative births; 59.4% primiparas). A total of 198 women participated in the online follow-up 6–8 weeks postpartum (questionnaire sent via e-mail). Results: The Slovak version of the EPDS had Cronbach’s coefficients of 0.84 and 0.88 at baseline (T1) and follow-up, respectively. The three-dimensional model of the scale offered good fit for both the baseline (χ2(df = 28) = 1339.38, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.02, and TLI = 0.99) and follow-up (χ2(df = 45) = 908.06, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.09, and TL = 0.90). A risk of major depression (EPDS score ≥ 13) was identified in 6.1% in T1 and 11.6% in the follow-up. Elevated levels of depression symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 10) were identified in 16.7% and 22.7% of the respondents at baseline and follow-up, respectively. Conclusions: The Slovak translation of the EPDS showed good consistency, convergent validity, and model characteristics. The routine use of EPDS can contribute to improving the quality of postnatal health care.

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