Clinical Application of Korean Version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Kim, Yong Ku; Hur, Ji Won; Kim, Kye Hyun; Oh, Kang Sub; Shin, Young Chul

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) is a 10-items self-report scale designed as a specific instrument to detect postnatal depression by Cox et al. (1987). This study was to determine the optimal cut-off point of the KEPDS for postpartum depression in Korea.
METHODS
The 239 pregnant women assessed their own psychiatric features with the Korean version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (K-EPDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) at 6 months of pregnancy, 1 week after delivery, and 6 weeks after delivery. Subjects above 9 points of K-EPDS at 6 week after delivery were interviewed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) to confirm postpartum depression.
RESULTS
The prevalence of postpartum depression was 12.6% (30/239 pregnant women) in our study. The total scores of K-EPDS at 6 weeks after delivery were higher significantly than those of normal group. The score gap of K-EPDS between the depressed pregnant group and the normal pregnant group was increased after the delivery. However, there were no differences in the epidemiological characteristics and the BDI scores at 6 weeks after delivery between groups. Using the AUC (area under the curve), the optimal point to assess the postpartum depression was revealed as 6 weeks after delivery (AUC=85.8%) or 24 weeks of pregnancy (83.7%). The cut-off point of K-EPDS to detect postpartum depression among pregnant women was 9/10 score of K-EPDS (AUC= 81.8%).
CONCLUSION
In the K-EPDS, cut-off score of 9/10 was optimal to assess the postpartum depression, and K-EPDS at 6 weeks of delivery was more useful than any other point of time. K-EPDS administrated during pregnancy may be a useful tool to find the vulnerability on the postpartum depression.