Validation of the Tamil version of Edinburgh post-partum depression scale

Abstract

in Vellore, rural Tamil Nadu, were screened for depression using the Tamil version of the EPDS. The subjects were also interviewed using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). The International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) criteria for postnatal depression were used. Various thresholds of the EPDS were compared against the standards of the ICD-10. A receiver operator characteristic curve was drawn to obtain the best threshold value for screening. RESULT(S): Seventeen (13.2%) of the subjects interviewed satisfied ICD-10 criteria for postnatal depression. The optimal threshold for the EPDS was 8/9. This threshold had a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 90.2%. The area under the curve was 0.921. CONCLUSION(S): The sensitivity and specificity of the Tamil version of the EPDS is high. The instrument can be employed for screening for depression in the postnatal period.