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The use of Rating Scales to Identify Post-natal Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Brian Harris ,
Philip Huckle ,
Roger Thomas ,
Sandra Johns  and
Hedi Fung
Brian Harris*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Philip Huckle
Affiliation:
Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff
Roger Thomas
Affiliation:
Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff
Sandra Johns
Affiliation:
Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea
Hedi Fung
Affiliation:
Obstetrics, King's College Hospital Group, London
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

One hundred and forty-seven mothers were screened for major depression at six to eight weeks postpartum. Using predetermined cut-off points, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Beck scale were compared in their abilities to identify the 15% of subjects who had major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The sensitivity of Edinburgh scale was 95% and its specificity 93%. The performance of the Beck scale was markedly inferior, with a sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 88%.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 154 , Issue 6 , June 1989 , pp. 813 - 817
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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