Profiles of women with postpartum depressive symptoms: A latent profile analysis using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale factors

Abstract

Objectives To examine the multidimensionality of symptoms assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and to identify and characterize the profiles of women with Postpartum Depression (PPD) symptoms. Methods A sample of 487 Portuguese postpartum women with clinically relevant depressive symptoms participated in this cross‐sectional online study. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to analyze the factor structure of the EPDS. A latent profile analysis based on the EPDS factors was conducted. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors between profiles were explored. Results Three EPDS factors were confirmed: depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. Based on these dimensions, three profiles with different symptom severities were found: mild anxious‐depressive symptoms; severe PPD symptoms; and moderate anxious‐depressive symptoms. Conclusion Identifying profiles of women with PPD symptoms according to the EPDS factors allows to understand the distinct paths of development of PPD and can inform the development of tailored interventions.

Perinatal depression: The use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to derive clinical subtypes

“…We administered a diagnostic measure across the whole sample in early pregnancy at recruitment and repeated at 6 months postpartum, and administered the EPDS twice in pregnancy and at 6 and 12 months postpartum, as defined by the term ‘perinatal’ depression. Our data did not support the EPDS factor structure reported by Putnam et al; however, both our early pregnancy and 6-month postpartum data confirmed the three-factor EPDS structure reported in Branquinho et al for depressed mood, anxiety and anhedonia subfactors (Branquinho et al, 2022; Putnam et al, 2017). Using these subfactors, we identified three latent subfactors in early pregnancy and three in the postpartum.…”

“…In this study, we aim to replicate findings from Putnam et al (2017) and Branquinho et al (2022) by examining depressive symptoms reported using the EPDS; however, rather than restricting this to early postpartum, we examine this both in early pregnancy and the postpartum and, in contrast with the previous studies, we use a diagnostic clinical interview administered at a consistent timepoint both in pregnancy and the postpartum to identify women with a depressive disorder, that is at less than 20 weeks gestation and at 6 months postpartum. First, we will confirm a three-factor (depressed mood, anxiety and anhedonia) depressive symptom factor structure in this sample, comparing three-factor structures reported in early postpartum in Putnam et al and Branquinho et al in our sample in both pregnancy and the postpartum.…”

“…The authors described the potential associations between these subtypes, sample demographics and pregnancy complications and outcomes, although further analysis was not undertaken. The second study of 487 postpartum women used a cross-sectional design and aimed to identify depression subtypes using the EPDS (Branquinho et al, 2022) administered at an average timing of 5.32 months postpartum. The study did not include a diagnostic measure; however, only women with an EPDS ⩾ 10 were included.…”