title: Detecting women at risk for postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 2 to 3 days postpartum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the capacity of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) implemented in the first days postpartum to detect women who will suffer from postnatal depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1154 women completed the EPDS at 2 to 3 days postpartum and again at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a highly significant positive correlation between EPDS scores on both occasions (Spearman rank correlation: r = 0.59, P < 0.0001). The cut-off scores of 10 and 11 for EPDS administered at 2 to 3 days obtained good specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive values for the cut off scores proposed for the diagnosis of postnatal depression at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EPDS completed at 2 to 3 days postpartum is a useful means of detecting women at risk of postnatal depression.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse-Le Mirail, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Teissèdre
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chabrol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors