title: The pattern of depression screening results across successive pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine whether depression screen results are consistent across successive pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered in 2 successive pregnancies to 2116 women. A woman was "screen-positive" if she scored ≥ 12 at 24-28 weeks' or 6-weeks' postpartum. Screen-positive women were assessed by telephone and triaged by mental health professionals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most women (87.9%) were screen-negative in both pregnancies; 1.7% screened successively positive, 5.9% screened positive in only the first pregnancy; 4.5% screened positive in only the second pregnancy. Unpartnered, nonwhite, and publicly insured women were each likelier to screen positive in either or both pregnancies (P < .0001). Gestational age at delivery was significantly greater in women who never screened positive (P < .05). A majority (63%) of screen-positive women in both pregnancies reported no history of mood disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is sufficient variability in depression screening results between successive gestations to warrant screening during each pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: La Porte
authors.forename: J Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Marci
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales