Search Resources (English): Postnatal depression

Discusses how women’s advances in the work force and education over the last three decades demonstrate an unstoppable movement toward equality and mark a quiet revolution in women’s lives. The gender gap has closed in employment numbers and reversed in education without a corresponding social policy response. Canada needs early learning and child care services, not a social policy gap that is decades behind reality.

Examines the the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) which is widely used to screen women for postpartum depression, and concludes that it may not be an equally valid screening tool across all settings and contexts.

A critique of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the primary test used to screen women for postnatal depression. Finds that there is a high risk of misdiagnosing women with this test - and the false positives (30-70%) could lead to unnecessary and inappropriate treatment.

Argues that problems with existing screening tools for postpartum depression make it difficult to recommend them for routine screening. Concludes that depression screening “must be combined with systemic paths for referral of cases and well defined and implemented care plans to achieve outcome benefits.”