Criterion validation of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale as a screening tool for depression in patients with advanced metastatic cancer.

It is estimated that 25% of palliative care patients will have identifiable symptoms of depression. Near the end of life, the distinction between what can be called "appropriate sadness" and depression may be difficult. Many palliative care units use rating scales to help identify patients who may be depressed. It is believed that symptoms such as guilt, worthlessness, and hopelessness may be more discriminating than other symptoms for depression within this population. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) was devised for use in women in the postnatal period and does not contain any somatic-type symptoms. It consists of 10 items, each rated on a four-point scale, and includes items on guilt, thoughts of self-harm, and hopelessness. It has not previously been used for screening in cancer patients. In a study of 100 inpatients receiving palliative care, a cutoff of 13 on the EPDS had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 79% for detecting cases of depression. There was a low rate of misclassifications. This study suggests that the EPDS may be useful as a screening instrument for palliative care patients.