The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: translation and validation for a Greek sample

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Postnatal depression affects mothers worldwide.
• The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a widely used screening tool.
• Validation of translated versions is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Greek version of the EPDS.
• To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the Greek EPDS.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the Greek EPDS.

Main Methods:

• 120 mothers within 12 weeks postpartum were recruited in Greece.
• The Greek EPDS and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were administered.
• Psychometric analyses included reliability, factor analysis, and ROC analysis.

Main Results:

• The Greek EPDS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.804).
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure (depressive symptoms and anxiety).
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7470, with a sensitivity of 76.7% and specificity of 68.3% at a threshold score of 8/9.

Conclusions:

• The Greek version of the EPDS is a valid and reliable instrument for screening postnatal depression.
• The scale can be effectively used in clinical practice and research settings in Greece.
• The findings support the use of the Greek EPDS for early identification of postpartum depression.