M. Lloyd-williams et al., Criterion validation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale as a screening tool for depression in patients with advanced metastatic cancer, J PAIN SYMP, 20(4), 2000, pp. 259-265
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Neurosciences & Behavoir
It is Estimated that 25% of palliative care patients will have identifiable
symptoms of depression. Near the end of life, the distinction between what
can be caned "appropriate sadness" and depression may be difficult. Many p
alliative care units use rating scales to help identify patients who may be
depressed. If is believed that symptoms such as guilt, worthlessness, and
hopelessness may be more discriminating than other symptoms for depression
within this population. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) was
devised for use in women in the postnatal period and does not contain any
somatic-type symptoms. It consists of 10 items, each rated on a four-point
scale, and includes items on guilt, thoughts of self-harm, and hopelessness
. It has not previously been used for screening in cancer patients. In a st
udy of 100 inpatients receiving palliative care, a cutoff of 13 on the EPDS
had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 79% for detecting cases of d
epression. There was a low rate of misclassifications. This study suggests
that the EPDS may be useful as a screening instrument for palliative care p
atients. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2000.