Evaluation of the EPDS and PC-PTSD-5 Scales for Screening Postpartum Mental Health Disorders Among Migrant Women.

What this study involves

The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Age range

18 years - Not specified

Sex eligible

Female

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Participants

80 Estimated

These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.

About the research

Postpartum depression (affecting approximately 15% of women) and childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (affecting approximately 5%) are major public health concerns due to their frequency and their impact on both maternal and child health. Diagnosis relies on specialized clinical interviews, which are difficult to offer systematically to all women after childbirth. Consequently, self-report screening tools are widely used, particularly the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for postpartum depression and the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) for PTSD.

However, these tools were developed and validated in the general population and may be less suitable for certain groups, particularly migrant women, who are at increased risk of postpartum mental health disorders. Their migration experiences are sometimes marked by traumatic events, which may contribute to complex forms of PTSD, and their clinical presentations may differ from those typically observed. Certain culturally specific expressions of psychological distress, dissociative symptoms, or somatic manifestations are not captured by current screening questionnaires.

Furthermore, cultural differences, perceptions of mental health, and language barriers may complicate the psychological assessment of these women and influence their responses to screening tools. These specific factors suggest that existing questionnaires may have insufficient diagnostic performance in some groups of migrant women.

The Psy4Mums project therefore aims to assess the relevance and performance of these screening tools in migrant populations that are particularly vulnerable from psychological, social, and economic perspectives. This evaluation may, if necessary, lead to adaptations in their content, cutoff scores, or methods of administration in order to improve the identification of postpartum mental health disorders. This approach is especially important in French Guiana, where more than half of all women giving birth are migrants.

Who may be able to participate?

The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult woman (≥18 years old) Having delivered in one of the three participating centers during the inclusion period Migrant woman: born abroad, holding a foreign nationality, and delivering in France for the Paris Saint-Joseph and Montreuil sites Migrant woman (born abroad with a foreign nationality) or native woman (born in French Guiana) for the Cayenne site Covered or not covered by a health insurance scheme (see rationale in Appendix 3) French-speaking or non-French-speaking (non-French-speaking women may be included with the assistance of a professional interpreter or intercultural mediator) Having provided free, informed, and explicit oral consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• dentified personal psychiatric history (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, or diagnosed PTSD), documented in the medical record or self-reported during the inclusion interview; current psychotropic medication use; or a psychiatric disorder diagnosed during the postpartum maternity stay prior to discharge Participation in another interventional research study classified as RIPH1 Individuals subject to a legal protection measure (safeguard of justice, guardianship, or curatorship) Individuals deprived of their liberty

Treatment, groups and participation

The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.

Assignment

Not applicable

Masking

No masking

What researchers are measuring

Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.

Primary measures

Secondary measures

Research locations (3)

The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.

3 locations

Study team and timeline

Lead sponsor

Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph

Study start

2026-12 Estimated

Primary completion

2027-09 Estimated

Study completion

2027-12 Estimated

First posted

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Last updated

Nov 10, 2026 Actual

Official study contacts