Validation of the intolerance of uncertainty scale as a screening tool for perinatal anxiety

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Melissa Furtado¹  Sheryl M. Green²  Benicio N. Frey³ 

[1] Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4L8, Ontario, Hamilton, Canada;Women’s Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Women’s Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Administration B3, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Women’s Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Administration B3, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Level 1, 100 West 5th Street, L8N 3K7, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada;

关键词: Anxiety;    Perinatal;    Pregnancy;    Postpartum;    Screening;    Intolerance of uncertainty;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12884-021-04296-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTo date, there is a significant lack of research validating clinical tools for early and accurate detection of anxiety disorders in perinatal populations. Intolerance of uncertainty was recently identified as a significant risk factor for postpartum anxiety symptoms and is a key trait of non-perinatal anxiety disorders. The present study aimed to validate the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) in a perinatal population and evaluate its use as a screening tool for anxiety disorders.MethodsPsychiatric diagnoses were assessed in a sample of perinatal women (n = 198), in addition to completing a self-report battery of questionnaires. Psychometric properties including internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity were assessed. Determination of an optimal clinical cut-off score was measured through a ROC analysis in which the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values were calculated.ResultsThe IUS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.95) and an optimal clinical cut-off score of 64 or greater was established, yielding a sensitivity of 89%. The IUS also demonstrated very good positive (79%) and negative (80%) predictive values.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the IUS represents a clinically useful screening tool to be used as an aid for the early and accurate detection of perinatal anxiety.

【 授权许可】

CC BY