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Comparative Incidence of Depression in Women and Men, During Pregnancy and after Childbirth

Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in Portuguese Mothers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M. E. G. Areias ,
R. Kumar ,
H. Barros  and
E. Figueiredo
M. E. G. Areias*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar 2, 4000 Porto, Portugal
R. Kumar
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
H. Barros
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Serviço de Higiene e Epidemiologia, Av. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4300 Porto
E. Figueiredo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar 2, 4000 Porto, Portugal
*
Professor R. Kumar, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
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Abstract

Background

Comparing women's and men's emotional reactions to childbirth can clarify the impact on mental health of childbirth as a life event.

Method

Fifty-four first-time mothers attending obstetric services in Oporto, Portugal, and 42 of their husbands or partners participated in a longitudinal study of their mental health. All subjects were given a semi-structured clinical interview (SADS) at 6 months antenatally and at 12 months postnatally and sub-samples were interviewed at 3 months postnatally. At all these times all the mothers and fathers also completed a translated version of a self-rating scale for depression, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Results

More women than men had past histories of depression but their rates of depression did not differ significantly during pregnancy. In the first 3 months postnatally, nearly a quarter of the women ‘at risk’ were found to have become depressed (major, minor and intermittent) in contrast with less than 5% of the men. In the next nine months men were more prone to become depressed than previously and their conditions tended to follow an earlier onset of depression in their spouses.

Conclusion

Comparisons of EPDS and SADS ratings showed that the translated EPDS was a valid instrument for women but it was less satisfactory when applied to men.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 1 , July 1996 , pp. 30 - 35
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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