the DSM criteria at 6 or 10 months, they were included in
the respective study groups. (One control participant who
was originally inclu2.2. Screening questionnaires
1. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): the EPDS is
a 10-item questionnaire for screening postnatal depression.
Previous research has shown a sensitivity of 86%
and a specificity of 78% as well as an acceptable internal
consistency (Cronbach's alpha, α=0.87; Cox et al., 1987).
2. Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-Q): the
GAD-Q is a self-report diagnostic questionnaire assessing
GAD, as defined by the DSM-IV. The specificity and sensitivity
have been reported to be over 80% and the internal
consistency has been demonstrated to be good (α=0.84)
(Newman et al., 2002).ded as a control at 3 months, was found
to meet the diagnostic criteria for MDD at 10 months and
removed from the control group and placed in the MDD
group.) In the case of co-morbidity, group assignment was
based on the principal diagnosis.
During the 18-month lab visit, the mothers in theMDDand
GAD groups were reassessed using the SCID and completed
the morphed faces task. Those mothers whose disorder was
found to have remitted (CSRb4) were not included in the
morphed faces study. Due to the study design, control (CON)
mothers did not attend the 18-month assessment; therefore
the morphed faces task was completed in a prior visit, at
about 10 months. The current study involved 89 mothers
(21 MDD, 34 GAD, and 34 CON). The mean age of participants
at the time of the assessment was 33.24 years (SD=5.20) and
the majority of mothers had completed a post 18-year old
educational qualification. There were no differences between
the groups on demographic variables (see Table 1 for sample
demographic characteristics). Approval for the study was
obtained from the Oxfordshire Research Ethics Committee.
Informed consent was obtained from all participants.