A recently published study in the Journal of Pediatrics examined if screening for Postpartum Depression during the first six months of life was enough.

The women participating were adolescents. Physicians were electronically cued to screen their patients during their infant’s two month well-child check-up. No patients refused the screening. Up to 99% of the cases were screened, 98% of the time the EPDS was administered and mothers with a score greater than 10 were ALWAYS referred for help.

At 3wks postpartum, scores proved to be unstable. At two, four, and six months, the scores slowly decreased. Overall, 20% of new mothers scored 10 or higher.

You can read the study by clicking here.