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Assessing psychopathology in pregnancy and postpartum
1Psychology Department, Hunter Wing, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE, UK. sayers@sghms.ac.uk
Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|July 12, 2001
Summary
This study reviews anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) questionnaires for pregnant and postpartum women. It assesses measure validity, reliability, and practical use, offering a resource for mental health research.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD are prevalent in pregnant and postpartum women.
- Accurate assessment tools are crucial for identifying and managing these conditions during the perinatal period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing questionnaire measures for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in pregnant and postpartum populations.
- To provide researchers with a guide for selecting valid and reliable assessment tools for perinatal mental health studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of psychometric properties of selected questionnaires.
- Discussion of the applicability, benefits, and challenges of using these measures in pregnant and postpartum women.
- Compilation of available normative data for relevant female and obstetric samples.
Main Results:
- Key issues and problems associated with measuring anxiety, depression, and PTSD in this population are identified.
- Two appropriate measures for each condition are described, detailing their validity and reliability.
- Normative data are presented where available to aid interpretation.
Conclusions:
- The paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers investigating psychopathology in pregnant and postpartum women.
- Informed selection of validated instruments is essential for advancing perinatal mental health research.
- Understanding the specific challenges of using these measures in perinatal populations is critical for accurate assessment.