Effect of contraception on depression: comparison of Edinburgh and Beck
depression scales
K. Ertopçu, M. Inal, A. Dönmez, I. Ergin, S. Yetkin, S. Vardar, Ö.
Biçer, I. Özelmas
Family Planning Department, Izmir, Turkey
Objective: To evaluate the satisfaction from contraceptive method use
and depression of women with undesired pregnancies together with comparison of
Edinburgh and Beck depression scales.
Material and Methods: Cases applied to our family planning clinic in
between 15.12.2003 and 15.01.2004 were divided into four groups and enrolled
into the study. Cases using none of the contraceptive methods and who applied
for a contraceptive method formed the first group. Cases using intrauterine
device (IUD) and who were satisfied with the method and under routine control
formed the second group. The third group was consisting of cases who were not
satisfied with IUD use. The fourth group was consisting of cases who had applied
for uterine evacuation. Cases using hormonal contraceptive methods were excluded
from the study. In order to evaluate the psychological status’ of all
applicants in the last one week, Edinburgh depression scale with 10 questions
and Beck depression scale with 21 questions were applied to all of the
applicants under accompaniment of a counselor nurse. The cut-off value
calculated for Edinburgh depression scale was 12/13. Points in between 0–13
represented no depression, points in between 14–24 represented medium
depression and points equal and over 25 represented serious depression in Beck
depression scale. Statistical data were evaluated with Pearson Chi-square test.
Results: Group 1 consisted of 40 cases and each of Group 2, Group 3
and Group 4 were consisted of 50 cases. Mean age of the cases was 32 years. 48%
of the cases had 2 children. 83% of the cases were primary school graduates and
74% of the cases had no desire for more children, and only 11.6% of the cases
were in premenstrual period. According to Edinburgh depression scale, 47.4% of
all cases were depressive, whereas according to Beck depression scale, 27.4% of
the cases were under medium depression and 12.6% of the cases were under serious
depression. Depression was observed more frequently in women with undesired
pregnancies with a rate of 76% after evaluation of the both scales. As an
unexpected result, the minimum depression rate observed with unsatisfied IUD
users was, 28% in Edinburgh scale and 30% in Beck scale. The depression rates
observed with applicants for new contraceptive method were 40% in Edinburgh
scale and 32.5% in Beck scale. The depression rates of the cases satisfied with
IUD use were 44% in Edinburgh scale and 30% in Beck scale.
Conclusions: Depression observed in applicants for undesired
pregnancies shows the importance of contraception in women. Edinburgh and Beck
depression scales pointed out correlation only in between two groups. Whereas
correlation was not observed with Beck scale in other two groups when cut-off
value of Edinburgh scale was set as 12.
