Validation of a screening instrument for postpartum depression in Southern Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this investigation was to assess the prevalence of postpartum depression in a sample of 101 women and to validate a Portuguese version of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) in Southern Brazil.


METHODS
Research volunteers completed the PDSS and underwent an assessment based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders (SCID). Parameters under investigation included the demographic characteristics of the sample, internal structure, and discriminant validity.


RESULTS
All questions in the Portuguese version of the PDSS attained significant Cronbach's alpha of 0.62. The factorial analysis of the Portuguese version of PDSS identified one principal factor that contributed 38.8% of the variance. The best cut-off score for the Portuguese version of the PDSS was a score of 81, which accounted for a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 72% in this sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The Portuguese version of the PDSS demonstrated sound psychometric properties. The results of the factorial analysis also demonstrated that the Portuguese version of the PDSS assesses postpartum depressive disorders in a coherent and integrated manner. The original English version of the PDSS was successfully adapted to Portuguese.
Zubaran
Carlos
C
Department of Psychiatry, Blacktown Hospital, West Sydney Area Health Service, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia. zubaran_jr@yahoo.com
Foresti
Kátia
K
Schumacher
Marina Verdi
MV
Amoretti
Aline Luz
AL
Müller
Lúcia Cristina
LC
Thorell
Mariana Rossi
MR
White
Gillian
G
Madi
José Mauro
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014175:Translating