Generating an efficient version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in an urban obstetrical population.

Background: Postpartum depression incurs significant burden and suffering.

Methods: We investigated the latent structure of the most commonly used screening measure, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in women (N=15,172) and tested its predictive validity for the diagnosis of depression as determined with a structured clinical interview. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, and logistic regression analyses were conducted.