The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: Screening Tool for Postpartum Anxiety as Well? Findings from a Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Hebrew Version

Abstract

for Practice The Hebrew version of the EPDS appears to consist of depression and anxiety sub-scales. Given the widespread PPD screening initiatives, anxiety symptoms should be addressed in addition to depressive symptoms, and a short scale, such as the EPDS, assessing both may be efficient.

Factor structure of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

“…Interestingly, factor correlations between ‘anxiety’, ‘depression’, and ‘anhedonia’ in the three-factor model were lower than those from previous studies 21 , 24 , 39 . Therefore, compared to previous studies, our result shows high discriminant validity; i.e.…”

“…Such a separation from mixed valences of items (and response scales) has been previously reported 41 , 42 . In fact, all the two-factor models examined in this study 10 , 39 , 43 consist of an independent anxiety factor and a bounded depression/anhedonia factor. Although our data seems to support ‘depression’ and ‘anhedonia’ being distinct factors, further studies examining this point using bifactor models 42 , 44 are needed.…”

Sense of Coherence Mediates the Links between Job Status Prior to Birth and Postpartum Depression: A Structured Equation Modeling Approach

“…The mediating role of SOC on PPD scores might be better understood by considering the context of birth and care of a new child as a significant life event which can cause distress and anxiety for new mothers. The EPDS is an effective screening tool for PPD, but it measures symptoms of depression and anxiety combined [ 54 , 71 ]. Consequently, a high EPDS score may represent a risk of anxiety more than a risk of depression.…”

“…Examples of items on the EPDS include, “I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things” and “I have felt sad or miserable”. The Hebrew version has also been validated [ 54 , 55 ]. The scale focuses on the cognitive and affective features of depression and requires the respondent to reflect over the seven days prior to completing it.…”

The psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) when used prenatal

“…This refers both to the postnatal (Astbury et al, 1994;Berle et al, 2003;Matthey, 2008;Phillips et al, 2009;Pop et al, 1992;Ross et al, 2003;Swalm et al, 2010;Tuohy & McVey, 2008) and prenatal periods (Adouard et al, 2005;Agampodi & Agampodi, 2013;Bowen et al, 2008;Brouwers et al, 2001;Jomeen & Martin 2005;Jomeen & Martin 2007;Montazeri et al, 2007;Ross et al, 2003;Swalm et al, 2010;Töreki et al, 2013;Zhong et al, 2014). Many studies reporting more than one factor have advocated the use of the EPDS as a multidimensional screening instrument for both depression and anxiety (Bina & Harrington, 2016;Matthey, 2008). Conclusions should be made carefully as methodological limitations have been found in many studies, like small sample sizes and different statistical methods, e.g.…”