Impact of Mode of Administration on the Scores from Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Identifying the Issue

• EPDS is a validated screening tool used in the assessment of perinatal depression (PND)
• Responders answer EPDS questions differently due to PND associated stigma depending on the mode of administration
• This study evaluates the differences in EPDS scores used for assessment of PND over a span of 9 months

Objective of the Research

• Assessment of the difference in the EPDS scores between self and interviewer mode of administration
• Investigation of the baseline clinical and psychosocial characteristics of the study subjects associated with the difference between the two modes of administration
• Evaluation of the differences in antenatal depression, postnatal depression and PND rates using the two modes of EPDS administration

Who should read this?

This article is an outcome of study parameters based on socio-psychological assessments and is recommended for psychiatrists, mental health clinicians, physicians, students of mental health and obstetrics & gynaecology practitioners.

Solution

EPDS is a self-administered screening tool for assessing PND. However, the EPDS usage in the Indian population is predominantly interviewer-administered. It is extremely necessary to address the limitations involved in the assessment of PND in rural settings. The present longitudinal observational study was intended to evaluate the differences in EPDS administration between the self-administered and interviewer-administered modes to understand and improve the test score interpretations.

Key Features and Benefits

• The study helps in bridging the knowledge gap in PND assessment and health care catering to pregnant women and new mothers in the rural South-Indian population
• The study includes data related to preclinical, clinical and socio-demographics relevant to psychiatry and details the socio-cultural diversity of the region as it relates to mental health

Impact

• This study has a direct societal relevance, particularly in rural settings, with respect to healthcare administration for perinatal women
• The current research work sheds light on the possibility of systematic bias involved in administering EPDS questionnaires in the Indian population that needs to be still understood
• This study increases the awareness on the impact of the mode of EPDS administration, especially in non-English speaking, culturally diverse and low or middle-income countries such as India

Team

Pradeep Kumar Badiya, Sasidhar Siddabattuni, Venkatesh Srinivasan and Sai Sathish Ramamurthy
STAR Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, 515134, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India

Debarshi Dey
Independent Researcher, Biostatistician, Munich, 82152, Germany.

Akkamahadevi C. Hiremath
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Whitefield, Bangalore, 560066, India.

Raj Lakshmi Nalam
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam, 515134, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Sridhar Vaitheswaran and Aarthi Ganesh
Schizophrenia Research Foundation, Chennai 600101, Tamil Nadu, India

Yendluri Prabhakar
Department of Psychiatry, Government medical college/Government General Hospital, Anantapur, 515001, Andhra Pradesh, India

Paper Published in: Asian Journal of Psychiatry

Title: Effect of mode of administration on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in the South Indian population: A comparative study on self-administered and interviewer-administered scores

Read Paper Here: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1d~HG6gcL74Lx8