VIETNAMESE AND ARABIC WOMENS RESPONSES TO THE DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW SCHEDULE (DEPRESSION) AND SELF-REPORT QUESTIONNAIRES - CAUSE FOR CONCERN

Objective: The original study aimed to determine the best cut-off scor es to screen for postnatal depression on translated versions of the Ed inburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for Vietnamese and Arabic wo men, This research was conducted using the depression module of the Di agnostic interview Schedule (DIS) to determine caseness. This paper re ports on the suitability of this diagnostic interview as a criterion m easure of depression in these women with a non-English speaking backgr ound. Method: Vietnamese and Arabic women in south-west Sydney complet ed the EPDS and a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) antenatally. A t 6-8 weeks postpartum they completed an EPDS, the GHQ-30 and a Faces Scale, and were interviewed using the depression module of the DIS. Me mbers of a small convenience sample of women were asked about the cult ural appropriateness of each of the instruments. Results: Vietnamese w omen admitted to few depressive symptoms on the DIS, whereas they appe ared more open to reporting these on the EPDS and the GHQ-30. Arabic w omen responded more openly to the questionnaires and the interview, al though they too were reluctant to report specific symptoms on the DIS. Conclusion: The usefulness of the DIS in determining rates of major d epression in the Vietnamese and Arabic community in Australia is quest ionable. Further studies designed specifically to investigate this are needed.