Introduction: Antenatal depression is highly prevalent, but it is still an underrecognized condition. We aimed to compare the psychometric properties of three different scales for the assessment of depressive symptoms, the Beck Inventory (BDI) the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), as compared with a structured interview conducted by a trained professional (MINI-PLUS), in pregnant women.
Methods: We included three hundred and sixty women who consecutively completed the BDI, the EPDS and the HAM-D scale and were interviewed using the MINI-PLUS in the second trimester of pregnancy. In addition, socio-demographic data were collected from all participants.
Results: Eighty-two women (22.8%) were diagnosed with a major depressive episode according to DSM-IV criteria using the MINI-PLUS. All scales showed good accuracy and reliability in screening for perinatal depression compared with the structured interview (MINI-PLUS).
Conclusions: The three scales had good psychometric characteristics, but the self-assessment scales BDI and EPDS can be easier to use in large populations as screening tools in public health. Since EPDS is possible the most used instrument used in postpartum depression we suggest it could also be used in antenatal depression as screening tool in primary health public care, particularly in developing countries like Brazil.
Humberto Correa
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