title: The validity of the Arabic Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
abstract: For the purpose of this study, a consecutive sample of 95 postpartum women were assessed at 1 week postpartum with the (EPDS) and at 8 +/- 2 weeks postpartum using the Present State Examination (PSE). A moderate correlation between PSE total score and EPDS score was found (r = 0.57). A moderate agreement between EPDS and Catego diagnosis of depression was also found (Kappa = 0.52). Using a cut-off score of 12 on EPDS and Catego diagnosis as a criterion variable, the sensitivity and specificity of the scale were 73% and 90%, respectively. However, using a cut-off score of 10, the sensitivity of the scale rose to 91% without much fall in its specificity (84%). The internal reliability of the scale was 0.84 (alpha Cronbach). We conclude that the Arabic version of the EPDS is a reliable and valid screening tool for depression in postpartum women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghubash
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Abou-Saleh
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Daradkeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology