A parent-rating scale of postpartum depression: Maternity-monitoring scale by parents (MMSP)

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 171; pp. 197 - 206
• Main Authors: Ohashi, Yoshiaki, Shoji, Miho, Hanawa, Kaori, Yokomichi, Hiroshi, Ishiguro, Hiroki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2024
• Subjects: COVID-19; Over-adaptation index for depression; Parent-rating scale; Postpartum depression; COVID-19; Parent-rating scale; Postpartum depression; Over-adaptation index for depression
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.01.033

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an illness that is difficult for the affected women themselves to recognize. Moreover, many mothers believe that mothers should not complain about the mental difficulties of taking care of their children. Therefore, in addition to self-evaluation for PPD, evaluation from others is also necessary. We aimed to develop a novel measure to screen for PPD based on a parent-rating scale that is administered to the parents of postpartum mothers. The 15-item maternity-monitoring scale by parents (MMSP) was designed and applied to the feasibility cohort (n = 61) and the emergency cohort (n = 55). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (threshold score of 8/9) was used to evaluate a high risk of PPD. An egogram-based index, the over-adaptation index for depression (OAID), was performed along with the EPDS and MMSP. In the feasibility cohort, MMSP was moderately correlated with EPDS. In the emergency cohort, under the circumstance of the state of emergency declaration over the coronavirus disease 2019 in Japan, application of the MMSP was delayed, resulting in the proportion of parents who overlooked PPD symptoms in their daughters increasing from 33 % to 50 %. Our findings suggest that a novel approach of parent-rated PDD screening of postpartum women is potentially possible, and the MMSP is a potential candidate for screening. Moreover, the OAID is also helpful in identifying women with hidden PPD, along with the EPDS. The performance of the MMSP should be confirmed in the parents of patients with PPD diagnosed by psychiatrists. •The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been the most used measurement of PPD, but required greater precision. The novel approach, parent-rating depression screening MMSP and over-adaptation index for depression OAID, are helpful to distinguish PPD. The MMSP, followed by a composite measure constructed using the EPDS and OAID, will broadly contribute to the screening of PPD.