{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T06:09:40Z","timestamp":1789711780006,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789603200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789603200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["British J of Psychology"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Although the three anxiety\u2010related items of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS\u20103A) are widely used to flag anxiety\u2010related distress, their psychometric performance across perinatal phases remains insufficiently established. We evaluated factor structure, measurement invariance, differential item functioning (DIF), score precision and convergence with Generalized Anxiety Disorder\u20137 (GAD\u20107) thresholds in a nationwide Italian sample of 10,100 individuals (4,410 pregnant; 5,690 postpartum). Participants completed the EPDS and GAD\u20107. Analyses included exploratory graph analysis, tau\u2010equivalent ordered\u2010categorical confirmatory factor analysis, multi\u2010group invariance testing, DIF analysis, graded\u2010response item response theory and receiver\u2010operating characteristic curves. The three anxiety\u2010related items formed a distinct community, with stronger clustering postpartum. Tau\u2010equivalent one\u2010factor fit was stronger postpartum and modest during pregnancy; scalar invariance was supported. DIF was negligible, and item response theory analyses indicated ordered thresholds and meaningful item discrimination. The EPDS\u20103A showed moderate convergence with GAD\u20107 generalized anxiety symptom thresholds. A score of 5 was the Youden\u2010selected EPDS\u20103A threshold for distinguishing participants above versus below moderate or severe GAD\u20107 thresholds in both phases. The EPDS\u20103A yields a brief, psychometrically coherent anxiety\u2010related score across pregnancy and postpartum, but convergence with worry\u2010related GAD\u20107 symptoms does not establish diagnostic or broad perinatal anxiety screening accuracy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/bjop.70111","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,18]],"date-time":"2026-09-18T05:39:07Z","timestamp":1789709947000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychometric properties of the\n                    <scp>EPDS<\/scp>\n                    \u2010\n                    <scp>3A<\/scp>\n                    across pregnancy and postpartum: Factor structure and invariance in a nationwide sample"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4807-7184","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alberto","family":"Stefana","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Behavioural 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Rome Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9007-6479","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Camoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health National Institute of Health  Rome Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"name":"the Perinatal Mental Health Network Group","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_10_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2018.08.029"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/da.22711"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/AOG.0000000000002927"},{"key":"e_1_2_10_5_1","volume-title":"Mental health care in the perinatal period: Australian clinical practice guideline","author":"Austin 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