The pattern of depression screening results across successive pregnancies

Determine whether depression screen results are consistent across successive pregnancies.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered in 2 successive pregnancies to 2116 women. A woman was "screen-positive" if she scored ≥ 12 at 24-28 weeks' or 6-weeks' postpartum. Screen-positive women were assessed by telephone and triaged by mental health professionals.

Most women (87.9%) were screen-negative in both pregnancies; 1.7% screened successively positive, 5.9% screened positive in only the first pregnancy; 4.5% screened positive in only the second pregnancy. Unpartnered, nonwhite, and publicly insured women were each likelier to screen positive in either or both pregnancies (P < .0001). Gestational age at delivery was significantly greater in women who never screened positive (P < .05). A majority (63%) of screen-positive women in both pregnancies reported no history of mood disorder.

There is sufficient variability in depression screening results between successive gestations to warrant screening during each pregnancy.