Validation study of the French Version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): New results about use and psychometric properties
Abstract
The validation of the French version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), conducted on a sample of 87 women in the first 4 months of post-partum, is presented. The study of the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values versus research diagnosis criteria provide the cut-off score of 10.5 as the best (sensitivity: 0.80; specificity: 0.92). The EPDS as an index of severity of postnatal depression (PND) also had good criterion validity compared to the psychiatrist's assessment. Factor analysis shows that the internal structure of the EPDS is composed of two subscales which underline a more accurate description of PND. The reliability study confirms the good internal consistency of the global scale (Cronbach's alpha: 0.76) and its good short term test-retest reliability (0.98).
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Postnatal depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a screening cut-off >11, and the French validation showed good psychometric qualities.
“PND was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with a screening cut-off >11 [41]. French validation showed good psychometric qualities [42].”
From Acceptance Mindfulness-Trait as a Protective Factor for Post-Natal Depression: A Preliminary Research (2022) · cites this paper as [42]
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“French validation showed good psychometric qualities [42].”
- Authors
- Guedeney, N., & Fermanian, J.
- Affiliations
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades (FR)
- ORCID
- Fermanian, J
- Venue
- European Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1998
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 83-89
- ISSN
- 0924-9338 (ISSN-L)
- 1778-3585
- OpenAlex
- W2075881132
- Cited by
- 342
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 4.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, postpartum depression, French adaptation, psychometric validation, cut-off values, diagnostic accuracy, factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, postpartum women
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