title: Aims, measures, study sites and participant samples of the Transcultural Study of Postnatal Depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although postnatal depression is a common condition, with adverse effects on the child, mother and partner, there has been no research to date linking analyses of its origins and consequences with studies of service provision in different national health and social systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Transcultural Study of Postnatal Depression (TCS-PND) was set up to develop a set of instruments to facilitate such research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven research instruments were piloted in studies carried out in ten centres in eight countries. A qualitative study looked at the cross-cultural equivalence of the concept of postnatal depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results are reported in the individual papers in this supplement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reliable and culturally valid measures are now available for future comparative research into postnatal depression within different health systems and countries.
authors.affiliation: Section of Perinatal Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asten
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Oates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design