Validation of the French Version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Postnatally in the Father (EPDS-PERE)

In recent years, fatherhood has changed considerably. Fathers are now more involved during the perinatal period, with their partner but also in caring for the child. Investigators now know that this period is also a source of major psychological upheaval, identity crisis, apprehension and anxiety for men. These upheavals can lead to depression that must be detected and treated as early as possible. This is an easy screening to perform using the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Currently, the EPDS is the most widely used self-questionnaire to assess the risk of depression in women during the perinatal period. Indeed, it is systematically recommended in many countries. It is starting to be used for the same purpose in the perinatal period in men, although the scale has not been validated in a representative sample of men in the pre- or post-natal period.

The main objective is to validate the use of the EPDS scale as a screening tool for postnatal depression in a population of French fathers.

They complete the PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaires online at inclusion and 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child. Fathers included at the maternity ward also too Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) at inclusion.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Depression, Postpartum
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; Other: EPDS book

Detailed Description

Fathers complete the PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaires online at inclusion and 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child. Fathers included at the maternity ward also too Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) at inclusion.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1000
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Angélique PICARD, project coordinator; Phone Number: +33232734856; Email: angelique.picard@ch-havre.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Christophe FRUIT, CRA; Phone Number: +33232734857; Email: cellule.rechercheclinique@ch-havre.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Clamart, France, 92140
    • Enrolling by invitation
    • Antoine-Béclère hospital AP-HP
  • Montivilliers, France, 76290
    • Recruiting
    • Le Havre hospital - site Jacques Monod
    • Contact: PICARD Angélique; Phone Number: 0232734856
    • Principal Investigator: Gisèle APTER, Professor - child psychiatry

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All fathers whose baby is 10 days old or less

Exclusion Criteria:

• People with a poor understanding of spoken or written French
• Minors
• Persons under court protection, guardianship or curatorship

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Fathers included at the maternity hospital or through their wife; At inclusion, fathers included at the maternity hospital or through their wife take the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and complete the EPDS book (PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaire). 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child, they complete only EPDS book.	Diagnostic test: Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; Fathers have Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, the standard diagnostic tool for post-natal depression; Other: EPDS book; PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaires are completed online at inclusion and 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of child.
Experimental: fathers includes through the awareness campaign; At inclusion, fathers included through the awareness campaign have only the EPDS book (PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaire) at inclusion. 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child, they complete the same EPDS book.	Other: EPDS book; PH-Q9, EPDS and socio-demographic questionnaires are completed online at inclusion and 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of child.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview	This short structured clinical interview is used to diagnose psychiatric disorders and is currently the gold standard for diagnosing depression.	at inclusion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
socio-demographic questionnaire	Socio-demographic data will be a secondary evaluation criterion. It will be used to study risk and protective factors, both those already known in the literature and those that have been little studied, and to identify profiles that are more at risk, with a view to taking preventive action in the field.	at inclusion and 6 to 8 weeks after the birth of their child

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Groupe Hospitalier du Havre

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 11, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 12, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 12, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 9, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 13, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 19, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Mental Disorders; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Mood Disorders; Puerperal Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Depression, Postpartum
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024-A00242-45

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No