Profiles of women with postpartum depressive symptoms: A latent profile analysis using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale factors.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Branquinho, Mariana, ; Canavarro, Maria Cristina; Fonseca, Ana
- Source
- Journal of Clinical Psychology; Jul2022, Vol. 78 Issue 7, p1500-1515, 16p, 4 Charts, 1 Graph
- Subject
- Mental depression
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Depression in women
Confirmatory factor analysis
Postpartum depression
- Language
- ISSN
- 00219762
Objectives: To examine the multidimensionality of symptoms assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and to identify and characterize the profiles of women with Postpartum Depression (PPD) symptoms. Methods: A sample of 487 Portuguese postpartum women with clinically relevant depressive symptoms participated in this cross‐sectional online study. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to analyze the factor structure of the EPDS. A latent profile analysis based on the EPDS factors was conducted. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors between profiles were explored. Results: Three EPDS factors were confirmed: depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. Based on these dimensions, three profiles with different symptom severities were found: mild anxious‐depressive symptoms; severe PPD symptoms; and moderate anxious‐depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Identifying profiles of women with PPD symptoms according to the EPDS factors allows to understand the distinct paths of development of PPD and can inform the development of tailored interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]