Screening for Postpartum Depression Using EPDS and HAM-D in Mothers Within 72 Hours After Delivery at a Tertiary Care Center (SOS-Mamma Study)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CAMPANIA LUIGI VANVITELLI · Jun 17, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at how common postpartum depression (a type of depression that can happen after having a baby) is among new mothers and how well early screening tools work in finding it. The researchers will invite women who have just given birth at a hospital in Naples, Italy, to take part within 72 hours after delivery. Women eligible to join are those aged between 18 and 44, with a single baby born at or near full term, and whose baby is healthy enough to go home. Women with certain health conditions, like severe psychiatric illnesses or very premature births, won’t be included.

If you join the study, you’ll be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which helps identify feelings of sadness or depression after childbirth. You’ll also have a short interview with a trained healthcare professional using another assessment tool. This is not a treatment study, so your usual care won’t change, but if signs of depression or serious concerns are found, you will be referred to specialist support. The goal is to better understand how often postpartum depression happens and to improve early screening so mothers can get help sooner, improving health for both mom and baby. Participation is voluntary, and your privacy will be fully protected.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • nclusion Criteria
• • Women aged ≥18 and \<45 years at the time of delivery
• • Singleton pregnancy at term (≥37 weeks) or late preterm (≥35 weeks of gestation)
• • Live-born infant in clinically stable condition at discharge
• • Ability to understand and complete self-reported questionnaires (EPDS) in Italian or English
• • Ability to provide written informed consent
• • Screening performed within 72 hours postpartum during routine hospital stay
• • Exclusion Criteria
• • Multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins or higher-order gestations)
• • Major psychiatric diagnosis under active treatment at the time of delivery (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• • Severe language barriers preventing adequate understanding of the consent form or questionnaires
• • Neonatal death or congenital anomalies requiring prolonged NICU admission
• • Maternal age \<18 or ≥45 years at delivery
• • Gestational age at birth \<35 weeks