Perinatal Mental Health: a guide to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
John Cox and Jeni Holden
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was designed
by the authors as a simple means of screening for postnatal
depression in health care settings. It can also be used by
researchers seeking information on factors that influence the
emotional well-being of new mothers and their families. The scale
has appeared in a number of languages and 20 of these translations
are included here, together with the original English
version.
This handbook is about the use of the EPDS and is designed for
health professionals and researchers.
- Practical guide to using the EPDS.
- Using the EPDS for research.
- Background on postnatal depression and origins of the
EPDS.
- Discussion of transcultural issues.
- Includes the EPDS in the definitive English version and in 20
other languages.
"If you are seeking a first rate guide to the EPDS then this is an
excellent book."
Primary Care Psychiatry
“A necessary, clear and concise book. A
joy to read.”
Dr J Hanley, Lecturer, University
of Swansea
Contents
1. Postnatal depression: an overview
Introduction · Other postnatal psychiatric disorders · Women’s
narratives · Effects on interactions with infants · Persistence of
effects on children of mothers with depression · Fathers and
postnatal depression · Clinical perspectives · Identifying
postnatal depression · Confirmation of the diagnosis · Causes ·
Caring for women with postnatal depression
2. The origins and development of the Edinburgh
Postnatal Depression Scale
Existing scales · Validating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
Scale · Reliability · Comparison with other scales · Other uses of
the EPDS
3. International and cultural issues
Translation · Validation
4. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in
clinical settings: research evidence
Routine postnatal screening · Detection of depression ·
Acceptability of the EPDS · Legitimising feeling · Antenatal
research and the EPDS · Should the EPDS be used as a routine screen
in pregnancy? · Other antenatal prediction measures · Identifying
pregnant women at risk of developing puerperal psychosis ·
Conclusions from EPDS screening research
5. Counselling and other psychotherapeutic
intervention in perinatal depression
The Edinburgh counselling intervention · Outline of the study ·
What we discovered · Setting up the study · Training the health
visitors · Problems · Extending research findings into clinical
practice · What we learned from the three-centre trial: relevance
to clinical practice · The Cambridge intervention trials · Health
visitor counselling in Sweden · Comparing antidepressant therapy
and cognitive counselling · Interpersonal psychotherapy · Telephone
counselling · Group interventions in postnatal depression ·
Psychotherapy, cognitive therapy and couple counselling · Massage
and support groups · Health-visitor-led support/therapy groups ·
Day hospital care · Antenatal interventions · Antenatal support and
information groups · Other ways of helping during the perinatal
period · Liaison with other agencies · Partners and the extended
family
6. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screening and
intervention services
The steering committee · A shared framework of understanding ·
Health professionals’ knowledge · The role of nurses in postnatal
depression · The need for clearly indentified referral systems ·
The need for specialist psychiatric services · Implications of
scores on item 10, self-harm · Training and support · Counselling
training · Conclusions
7. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
Scale
How to use the EPDS · Using the EPDS in research · Using the EPDS
in clinical practice · Honesty of women’s responses · What if
someone does not wish to complete an EPDS? · When, where and how
should the EPDS be given? · Using the EPDS with non-English
speakers · Conclusions
Appendix 1. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Appendix 2. Translations of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
Scale
Arabic · Chinese (Mandarin) · Czech · Dutch · French · German ·
Greek · Hebrew · Hindi · Icelandic · Japanese · Maltese · Norwegian
· Portuguese · Punjabi · Slovenian · Spanish · Swedish · Urdu ·
Vietnamese
References
Index