The Portuguese version of the Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS-PT): a validation study in postpartum women

AIMS/BACKGROUND: The Peripartum Depression Scale (PDS) is a comprehensive, multidimensional instrument designed to assess DSM-5-TR depressive symptoms across the peripartum period. This study is the first validation of a PDS translation and aims to examine the factor structure, reliability, discriminant validity, and known-groups validity of the Portuguese PDS (PDS-PT) in postpartum mothers. DESIGN/METHODS: = 463) with an infant aged 0 to 12 months completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the PDS-PT, the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF). RESULTS: The instrument's factorial structure was examined by comparing four competing models. A correlated nine-factor model provided the best fit to the data, although a hierarchical second-order model also demonstrated an acceptable fit. The PDS-PT total score and subscales showed adequate internal consistency. Correlations with the MPSS and DERS-SF were moderate, indicating moderate discriminant validity of the PDS-PT. Known-groups validity analysis showed that women with a mental health condition and those currently undergoing treatment scored significantly higher on the PDS than their counterparts. No significant differences were found between primiparous and multiparous women. CONCLUSION: The findings support the factor structure, high reliability, and moderate discriminant validity of the Portuguese version of the PDS as a comprehensive measure of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. These results highlight the PDS-PT as a valuable tool for clinical assessment and research in postpartum mental health and support its use as a total index of postpartum depression as well as the use of its subscales.