Factorial validity and cutoff score of the postpartum distress measure

Screening for postpartum mental health has a crucial role in identifying women needing psychological support. The present study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Postpartum Distress Measure (PDM) in Italian women in the first six months postpartum (n = 818). The PDM is a 10-item self-report questionnaire composed of two subscales assessing general distress and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. CFA supported the two-dimensional structure of the PDM, showing good fit in-dices as well as high internal consistency. Furthermore, ROC analysis revealed high sensitivity and specificity of the PDM in detecting possible cases of postnatal distress with an optimal cutoff of 9. Given its good psychometric properties and its sensitivity, the PDM may be confidently used as a screening tool for maternal distress in the first six months postpartum, covering a wide range of typical perinatal psychological symptoms.