Relation between Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores at 2-3 days and 4-6 weeks postpartum

Abstract

A sample of 299 women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 2-3 days and 4-6 weeks postpartum. There was a highly significant positive correlation between EPDS scores at both occasions (Spearman rank correlation: r=0.61, p<0.0001). Exploratory factorial analyses extracted three factors which were called 'anxiety', 'depressive mood', and 'anhedonia'. A multiple regression analysis entering factor scores at 2-3 days showed that the 'anxiety' factor was the main significant predictor of 4-6 weeks EPDS scores. The correlation between the 'anxiety' factor scores derived from 2-3 days EPDS and 4-6 weeks EPDS total scores was very strong (Spearman rank correlation: r=0.84, p<0.0001). The 'anxiety' factor was the only significant predictor of the clinical diagnosis of postnatal depression. These results suggest that the EPDS completed at 2-3 days postpartum is a useful means of screening for women at risk of postnatal depression.