This study aimed at conducting a systematic review of postpartum depression (PPD) screening scales in puerperal applied until 16 weeks after delivery among women above 15 years old. Articles were searched in 4 databases. The included articles should precisely describe the definition and the validation of the used instruments. Out of the 424 abstracts found, 62 complete articles were accessed, and only 18 articles that fulfilled the above-mentioned requirements were included. PPD screening period varied from 2 to 10 days postpartum, and patients were retested between 8 to 16 weeks postpartum. PPD was diagnosed in 8.8 to 40% of the patients sampled in those studies. The most frequent used scale was the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). It was concluded that scales are frequently used in research studies, and may allow the identification of PPD in gestating and puerperal patient care.
Depression, postpartum; Brief psychiatric rating scale; Obstetrical nursing; Psychiatric nursing
