SOGC Screening Frequency for Postpartum Depression with EPDS
Unfortunately, the provided evidence does not contain specific SOGC (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada) guidelines regarding screening frequency with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
What the Available Evidence Shows
Based on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations, screening should be performed using the EPDS as it is the most robustly validated tool with demonstrated sufficient psychometric properties across over 60 language translations 1.
Optimal Timing Based on Current Evidence
Screen at multiple time points during the postpartum period, as depression prevalence varies: 5% at 36 weeks gestation, 16% at delivery, and 14% at 6 weeks postpartum 2.
Screening immediately after delivery (within 3-24 hours) improves access to psychiatric care to 100% compared to 33% at 36 weeks and 15% at 6 weeks postpartum 2.
The EPDS administered at 1 week postpartum accurately predicts maternal mood at 4 weeks (85.4% accuracy) and 8 weeks (82.5% accuracy), with mothers scoring >9 being 30.3 times more likely to exhibit depression at 4 weeks 3.
Screening at 2-3 days postpartum shows highly significant correlation with scores at 4-6 weeks (r=0.59, p<0.0001), making it useful for detecting women at risk 4.
Practical Screening Algorithm
Perform initial screening during hospitalization after delivery to maximize access to psychiatric services 2.
Repeat screening at 6-8 weeks postpartum via telephone or in-person, as this timing efficiently identifies women at high risk within the first 6 months after delivery 5.
Continue screening at 3 months and 6 months postpartum to identify emergent symptoms in women who initially screened negative 5.
Important Clinical Considerations
Use a cutoff score of ≥10 on the EPDS, which identified 62% of major depressive disorder cases with significantly better accuracy than other screening tools 5.
Depression affects approximately 15% of mothers in the first postpartum year and is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, making systematic screening with adequate follow-up systems essential 1.
Screening must be coupled with systems ensuring accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate follow-up, as screening alone without these components is insufficient 1.