The association between antidepressant treatment in pregnancy and self-report of postnatal depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Background and Objective: Male postnatal depression has recently begun to attract more research attention. However, it often remains unrecognized despite affecting not only the health of the child but also the spousal relationship and family welfare. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of male postnatal depressive symptoms in Guangzhou, South China. It also explored sociodemographic factors and psychological variables as predictors of postnatal depression symptoms. Materials and methods: Chinese men whose children had been born within the last six months were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for depressive symptoms, the Vulnerable Personality Style Questionnaire for personality, and the Social Support Rating Scale for social support. Sociodemographic and psychosocial variables were descriptively analyzed and logistic regression was also employed to analyze the predictive impact of factors associated with depression. Results: A total of 212 new Chinese fathers participated in the study. The prevalence of postnatal depression was 24.1% assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale cutoff score of 10. Depressive symptoms were found to be signiﬁcantly associated with employment status and vulnerable personality traits. Higher family income, wanted pregnancy, having a child of the desired gender, more family support and objective support (OR = 0.598, 95% CI = 0.312-0.896) were all protective factors for depressive symptoms among new Chinese fathers. Conclusion: This study indicated that there is a need to routinely screen for postnatal depressive symptoms in men. Early identiﬁcation and timely referral to healthcare professionals may prevent postnatal depression and improve the mental health of new fathers. It is important for healthcare providers to develop and evaluate information resources in print and online so as to establish how best to identify and manage paternal postnatal mental health needs. This study also suggests that new fathers need to be provided with targeted resources concerning postnatal mental health and informed as to how to access them and who can be approached for professional support.

Download Full-text

The impact of education, country, race and ethnicity on the self-report of postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291716002087 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 787-799 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

A. Di Florio ◽

K. Putnam ◽

M. Altemus ◽

G. Apter ◽

V. Bergink ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Self Report ◽

Cultural Heterogeneity ◽

The Usa ◽

The Impact

BackgroundUniversal screening for postpartum depression is recommended in many countries. Knowledge of whether the disclosure of depressive symptoms in the postpartum period differs across cultures could improve detection and provide new insights into the pathogenesis. Moreover, it is a necessary step to evaluate the universal use of screening instruments in research and clinical practice. In the current study we sought to assess whether the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the most widely used screening tool for postpartum depression, measures the same underlying construct across cultural groups in a large international dataset.MethodOrdinal regression and measurement invariance were used to explore the association between culture, operationalized as education, ethnicity/race and continent, and endorsement of depressive symptoms using the EPDS on 8209 new mothers from Europe and the USA.ResultsEducation, but not ethnicity/race, influenced the reporting of postpartum depression [difference between robust comparative fit indexes (∆*CFI) < 0.01]. The structure of EPDS responses significantly differed between Europe and the USA (∆*CFI > 0.01), but not between European countries (∆*CFI < 0.01).ConclusionsInvestigators and clinicians should be aware of the potential differences in expression of phenotype of postpartum depression that women of different educational backgrounds may manifest. The increasing cultural heterogeneity of societies together with the tendency towards globalization requires a culturally sensitive approach to patients, research and policies, that takes into account, beyond rhetoric, the context of a person's experiences and the context in which the research is conducted.

Download Full-text

The Mental Health Characteristics of Pregnant Women With Depressive Symptoms Identified by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry ◽

10.4088/jcp.13m08646 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 75 (04) ◽

pp. 393-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Linda B. Lydsdottir ◽

Louise M. Howard ◽

Halldora Olafsdottir ◽

Marga Thome ◽

Petur Tyrfingsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale

Download Full-text

Parental divorce in childhood does not independently predict maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-020-03227-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elviira Porthan ◽

Matti Lindberg ◽

Eeva Ekholm ◽

Noora M. Scheinin ◽

Linnea Karlsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Parental Divorce ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Ultrasound Screening ◽

Medical Birth Register ◽

Final Study ◽

Witnessing Domestic Violence

Abstract Background This study sought to investigate if parental divorce in childhood increases the risk for depressive symptoms in pregnancy. Methods Women were recruited during their ultrasound screening in gestational week (gwk) 12. The final study sample consisted of 2,899 pregnant women. Questionnaires (including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were completed at three measurement points (gwk 14, 24 and 34). Prenatal depressive symptoms were defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥ 13. Parental divorce and other stressful life events in childhood were assessed at gwk 14. Parental divorce was defined as separation of parents who were married or cohabiting. Questionnaire data was supplemented with data from Statistics Finland and the Finnish Medical Birth Register. Results Parental divorce in childhood increased the risk for depressive symptoms during pregnancy (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.02–2.13), but the connection was no longer significant after adjusting for socioeconomic status, family conflicts and witnessing domestic violence in the childhood family (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.54–1.18). Conclusions Parental divorce alone does not predict depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Download Full-text

Predictive accuracy of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale assessment during pregnancy for the risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms: a prospective cohort study

BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology ◽

10.1111/1471-0528.12759 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 121 (13) ◽

pp. 1604-1610 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

JL Meijer ◽

C Beijers ◽

MG van Pampus ◽

T Verbeek ◽

RP Stolk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Predictive Accuracy ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms ◽

Scale Assessment

Download Full-text

Postpartum depressive symptoms of Brazilian women during the COVID-19 pandemic measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.091 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Aurélio Knippel Galletta ◽

Ana Maria da Silva Sousa Oliveira ◽

Jéssica Gorrão Lopes Albertini ◽

Gláucia Guerra Benute ◽

Stela Verzinhasse Peres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms

Download Full-text

The Dynamics of Eudaimonic Well-Being in the Transition to Parenthood: Differences Between Fathers and Mothers

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x18758344 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (9) ◽

pp. 2572-2589 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Martina Brandel ◽

Erika Melchiorri ◽

Chiara Ruini

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Transition To Parenthood ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

And Gender ◽

Age Range ◽

Study Hypothesis

Little is known about changes in existential dimensions of well-being (i.e., eudaimonic well-being) when becoming a parent, particularly in men. This study examined eudaimonic well-being during the transition to parenthood, considering depressive symptoms and gender differences. Fifty pregnant couples ( n = 50 fathers-to-be; n = 50 mothers-to-be; age range 24-53 years) enrolled in maternity units during pregnancy ordinary check-ups, participated in the study. Ratings of eudaimonic well-being (Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales) and depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were collected prenatally and postnatally. In line with the study hypothesis, the results showed that having a child increased well-being in both parents. Surprisingly, well-being in fathers improved more than in mothers. Gender differences accounted for 4.6% of the variance in postnatal eudaimonic well-being, while prenatal levels of eudaimonic well-being accounted for 70%. Becoming a parent has important implications for eudaimonic well-being especially in fathers. Clinical and sociological implications of the findings are discussed.

Download Full-text

The Need for Universal Screening for Postnatal Depression in South Africa: Confirmation from a Sub-District in Pretoria, South Africa

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17196980 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 6980

Author(s):

Kebogile Mokwena ◽

Itumeleng Masike

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Postnatal Depression ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Postnatal Depressive Symptoms

Although postnatal depression (PND) is a worldwide public health problem, it is relatively higher in developing countries, including countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Postnatal depression is not routinely screened for in primary healthcare facilities in South Africa, despite its reported compromise on mother and child health. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of, as well as factors associated with, postnatal depression in a sample of clinic attendees in a sub district in Tshwane, South Africa. A quantitative and cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of 406 women in three healthcare facilities. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to collect data from women who had infants between the ages of 0 and 12 months. The cut-off point for the EPDS for the depressed category was a score of 13 out of a maximum of 30. The majority of the women (57.14%, n = 232) had scores of 13 and above, which is indicative of postnatal depressive symptoms. On logistic regression, postnatal depressive symptoms were significantly associated with lack of support in difficult times (p < 0.001, 95% CI 10.57–546.51), not having the preferred sex of the baby (p = 0.001, 95% CI 0.37–0.58), low household income (p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.23–1.67), and an older baby (p = 0.005, 95% CI 1.21–1.49). The results show the high proportion of women who have postnatal depression but remain undiagnosed and untreated, and therefore confirm the need for routine screening for postnatal depressive symptoms in primary healthcare facilities, which are used by the majority of women in South Africa.

Download Full-text

Thirty years with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: voices from the past and recommendations for the future

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.2018.245 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 214 (3) ◽

pp. 127-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

John Cox

Keyword(s):

Postnatal Depression ◽

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ◽

Perinatal Depression ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Self Report ◽

Future Studies ◽

The Past ◽

Financial Interest ◽

Practical Usefulness ◽

The World

SummaryThe Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was published over 30 years ago as a ten-item self-report questionnaire to facilitate the detection of perinatal depression – and for use in research. It is widely used at the present time in many regions of the world and has been translated into over 60 languages. It is occasionally misused. In this editorial, updated recommendations for optimal use in primary and secondary care as well as research are provided. Future studies to evaluate its use and validity in naturalistic community populations are now required, and to determine the psychometric properties and practical usefulness of the EPDS when completed online.Declaration of interestJ.C. has no financial interest in the use of, or reproduction of, the EPDS.

Download Full-text