NONPSYCHOTIC POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION

This is the first multicentre study on the prevalence of women with Po stpartum Depression (PPD) in a German-speaking country. For this purpo se, the internationally used Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPD S) was translated into German and this version was validated linguisti cally, as well as statistically. In a parallel ''blind'' study the Ger man version was validated by means of semistructured psychiatric inter views of 54 participating women. A score of 10 or more on this self-re port questionnaire points to depressive symptoms of such significance that clinical assessment for PPD is indicated. With their consent, wom en received the EPDS with a demographic questionnaire three and six mo nths after delivery. Of the 3087 scales that were returned, 15.7% of t he women at three months and 13.7% of the women at six months post par tum had a score of 10 or more. In total, 21.3% of the women who answer ed both questionnaires were depressed at one or both points during the observed time. Demographic data of statistical significance for the E PDS score Included the items: ''single'', ''no support from the baby's father'', ''not nursing'', ''receiver of social welfare'', ''stress f actors'', and ''low educational level''. Using descriptive statistics, a profile of women at risk of PPD is presented.