Outcome of Postnatal Depression Screening Using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of postnatal depression screening by comparing the mental health outcome (at 6 months postpartum) of mothers under the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) screening programme versus usual clinical practice (usual practice), using randomized controlled trial design. With the use of the EPDS for the screening of postnatal depression, it is expected that more mothers in need of intervention (including mental health intervention, guidance in childcare and parenting, counseling in family relationships, etc) will be picked up and offered appropriate intervention, compared to the usual practice. It is hypothesized that the mental health of the group of women under the EPDS screening programme will be better than those under the usual practice, on subsequent follow-up.

Postnatal depression, Randomized controlled trial, Screening, Outcome, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Mother's mental health at 6 months postpartum, as measured on the EPDS and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), both being self-report questionnaires.

Marital relationship satisfaction (measured by the Chinese Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, a self-report questionnaire)

Marital status and employment status (both father and mother, where applicable) at 6 and 18 months postpartum

Child health measures, including weight at 6 and 18 months, number of hospitalizations and visits to doctors within the first 6 and 18 months as reported by mother

Inclusion Criteria: Chinese mothers of newborn babies <= 2 months who are registered with the 4 Maternal and Child Health Centres under study; Normally resident in Hong Kong (Hong Kong ID card holder, or HK Birth Certificate [with status of permanent resident indicated established] holder, or people who have been granted unconditional stay in Hong Kong, or passport holders having valid travel document showing the right to land in Hong Kong, or permission to land, or eligibility of HK permanent ID card verified, or entitlement to the right of abode in HK) Exclusion Criteria: Those who do not use the Chinese language (in both the written and spoken form); Those who are under active psychiatric contact; Those who delivered in hospitals which are still conducting their own EPDS screening programme.

Leung SS, Leung C, Lam TH, Hung SF, Chan R, Yeung T, Miao M, Cheng S, Leung SH, Lau A, Lee DT. Outcome of a postnatal depression screening programme using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: a randomized controlled trial. J Public Health (Oxf). 2011 Jun;33(2):292-301. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdq075. Epub 2010 Sep 29.