title: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: validation in a Norwegian community sample.
abstract: This study was undertaken to validate a Norwegian translation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The EPDS was validated against the DSM-IV criteria for major depression, derived from the PRIME-MD, in an interview study of 56 women selected from a community-based questionnaire study of 310 women 6 weeks postpartum. A score of > or =10 on the EPDS scale identified all women with major depression, giving a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval; 72%-100%) and a specificity of 87% (95% confidence interval; 77%-95%). The EPDS scores were strongly correlated with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale in the subsample of women interviewed (n=56) and with the Hopkins Symptom Check List (SCL-25) scores in the questionnaire study (n=310). Our results with regard to the sensitivity and specificity estimates are comparable with prior validation studies; however, the confidence intervals around the estimates are wide. Nevertheless, this study confirms that the EPDS is a valid clinical screening instrument for detecting postpartum depression.
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404, Torshov, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eberhard-Gran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eskild
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schei
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opjordsmoen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires