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Abstract
The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in routine antenatal care. More specifically, we wanted to study the impact on the management of depressive symptoms when midwives were aware of women's EPDS scores and given training about its potential impact and the ways in which it can be ameliorated. Sixteen midwives (study group) were informed of the woman's EPDS score in gestational week 25, and 16 midwives were not (comparison group). Women in the study group displayed a significant reduction in the within‐group EPDS mean score from week 25 to week 36 compared with women in the comparison group. An analysis of change scores revealed that whilst there was no significant difference between the groups in number of visits to the midwife or the doctor, or in number of referrals to a mental health professional, there was a significant difference in change patterns for the two groups from the first to the second assessment. The results of this study suggest that midwives who are aware of pregnant women's depressive symptoms and are given training in how to ameliorate them, support these women more effectively than midwives who are not aware and have not been given additional training on its treatment.
Acknowledgements
We thank the midwives in South Bohuslän who helped us with the information and recruitment. The study was supported by grants from Vårdal Foundation.