Postpartum depression: A review of postpartum screening

Abstract The postpartum period is a time during which women are at increased risk for both major and minor depression. Postpartum depression (PPD) incidences are reported between 3% and 17.5% using standard diagnostic systems with clinician interviews and from 3% to 25% based on self-report measures. Also, PPD is conducive to screening and secondary prevention and is underdiagnosed in the absence of screening. This review illustrates that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is an acceptable, convenient, reliable, and valid postdelivery screening instrument for PPD. These validation studies, performed in several countries, including the United States, demonstrate its accuracy and reliability. In the era of managed care, obstetrician/gynecologists will serve in a gatekeeper capacity and need to be prepared to diagnose, treat, and/or refer patients with depression efficiently and effectively. The EPDS can be used to assess practice-based incidences of PPD and as an adjunct to physician diagnosis and management in the detection and treatment of PPD.