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. 2018 Jul;12(4):720-729.
doi: 10.1177/1557988317749071. Epub 2018 Jan 19.

Paternal Perinatal Depression Assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Gotland Male Depression Scale: Prevalence and Possible Risk Factors

Magdalena Carlberg  1 , Maigun Edhborg  2 , Lene Lindberg  3   4
Affiliations

Paternal Perinatal Depression Assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Gotland Male Depression Scale: Prevalence and Possible Risk Factors

Magdalena Carlberg et al. Am J Mens Health. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Several studies have used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), developed to screen new mothers, also for new fathers. This study aimed to further contribute to this knowledge by comparing assessment of possible depression in fathers and associated demographic factors by the EPDS and the Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS), developed for "male" depression screening. The study compared EPDS score ≥10 and ≥12, corresponding to minor and major depression, respectively, in relation to GMDS score ≥13. At 3-6 months after child birth, a questionnaire was sent to 8,011 fathers of whom 3,656 (46%) responded. The detection of possibly depressed fathers by EPDS was 8.1% at score ≥12, comparable to the 8.6% detected by the GMDS. At score ≥10, the proportion detected by EPDS increased to 13.3%. Associations with possible risk factors were analyzed for fathers detected by one or both scales. A low income was associated with depression in all groups. Fathers detected by EPDS alone were at higher risk if they had three or more children, or lower education. Fathers detected by EPDS alone at score ≥10, or by both scales at EPDS score ≥12, more often were born in a foreign country. Seemingly, the EPDS and the GMDS are associated with different demographic risk factors. The EPDS score appears critical since 5% of possibly depressed fathers are excluded at EPDS cutoff 12. These results suggest that neither scale alone is sufficient for depression screening in new fathers, and that the decision of EPDS cutoff is crucial.

Keywords: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); Gotland Male Depression Scale (GMDS); depression; father; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1a.
Figure 1a.
Prevalence of possible depression assessed by EPDS at cutoff ≥10 or ≥12, respectively, and GMDS at cutoff ≥13. Percentage within parentheses. *EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale;**GMDS = Gotland Male Depression Scale.
Figure 1b.
Figure 1b.
Prevalence of possible depression assessed by each scale, EPDS and GMDS, respectively, regardless of overlapping detection. EDPS has been assessed at cutoff ≥10 or ≥12 and GMDS at cutoff ≥13. Percentages. *EPDS = Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale;**GMDS = Gotland Male Depression Scale.
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