The Portuguese version of the Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS-PT): a validation study in postpartum women

The Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS) is a comprehensive, multidimensional instrument designed to assess DSM-5-TR depressive symptoms across the peripartum period. This study is the first validation of a PDS translation and aims to examine the factor structure, reliability, discriminant validity, and known-groups validity of the Portuguese PDS (PDS-PT) in postpartum mothers.

Adult mothers (N = 463) with an infant aged 0 to 12 months completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the PDS-PT, the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF).

The instrument's factorial structure was examined by comparing four competing models. A correlated nine-factor model provided the best fit to the data, although a hierarchical second-order model also demonstrated an acceptable fit. The PDS-PT total score and subscales showed adequate internal consistency. Correlations with the MPSS and DERS-SF were moderate, indicating moderate discriminant validity of the PDS-PT. Known-groups validity analysis showed that women with a mental health condition and those currently undergoing treatment scored significantly higher on the PDS than their counterparts. No significant differences were found between primiparous and multiparous women.

The findings support the factor structure, high reliability, and moderate discriminant validity of the Portuguese version of the PDS as a comprehensive measure of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. These results highlight the PDS-PT as a valuable tool for clinical assessment and research in postpartum mental health and support its use as a total index of postpartum depression as well as the use of its subscales.