Screening Beyond Postpartum Depression: Occluded Anxiety Component in the EPDS (EPDS-3A) in French Mothers

This study explores whether an anxiety dimension (EPDS-3A) was found and valid in French women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.MethodsFrench women were followed-up at late pregnancy and 2 and 4  months postpartum (N = 144, 138 and 129). They completed the EPDS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A). Exploratory factor analyses were performed. Then to test its validity, the EPDS-3A was correlated with anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (EPDS-D) scores. Finally, prevalence estimates were computed according to recommended cut off.ResultsThe anxiety dimension assessed through the EPDS-3A was observed during the postpartum period but not during pregnancy. A two-factor structure (depression and anxiety) increases the variance explained at 2 and 4  months postpartum (respectively 6 and 12%). The EPDS-3A shows good internal consistency (≥ .70) and was more strongly associated with anxiety scores (HADS-A) (.48–.57) than with depression scores (EPDS-D) (.30–.39). Nearly 28% of mothers had scores that exceeded the EPDS-3A cut off (≥  4) but not the full EPDS cut off (≥ 13 or more).DiscussionThe EPDS contains an anxiety component (EPDS-3A) that can be found in French women during the postnatal period but not during pregnancy. It shows signs of internal consistency and validity. The EPDS-3A could be considered when screening for postpartum anxiety.
Source: Maternal and Child Health Journal - Category: Health Management Source Type: research