Psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in Mexican pregnant women

Introduction. Anxiety and depression in pregnant women are a public health problem. Their adequate detection requires valid and reliable instruments that are also useful for prevention and treatment. Objective. To identify the psychometric properties of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in a sample of Mexican pregnant women. Method. The HADS was applied to 716 pregnant women between 13 and 46 years old (M = 26.55; SD = 6.56) attended in a public hospital in Mexico City. Results. With a sample of 358 participants, a parallel analysis indicated a bifactorial structure for HADS, identified by exploratory factor analysis (Factor 1: anxiety, Factor 2: depression). The factors explained 53% of the variance and correlated positively (r = .36). The global internal consistency (Cronbach's [alpha] = .81; ordinal [alpha] = .93) and by factor (anxiety: Cronbach's [alpha] = .79; ordinal [alpha] = .88; depression: Cronbach's [alpha] = .79; ordinal [alpha] = .87) was acceptable. With data from the remaining 358 participants, a confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit for the structure detected ([chi square]/gl = 2.72; RMSEA = .06 [IC .05, .08]; GFI = .93; AGFI = .90; TLI = .90; CFI = .92). Discussion and conclusions. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale has adequate psychometric properties to be used in pregnant Mexican women. Its use in routine pregnancy controls would be useful to prevent, detect, and timely treat these conditions. Keywords: Prenatal anxiety, prenatal depression, pregnant women, validation, internal consistency, Mexico. Introduccion. La ansiedad y la depresion en gestantes representan un problema de salud publica. Su adecuada deteccion requiere de instrumentos validos y confiables que tambien sirvan para su prevencion y tratamiento. Objetivo. Identificar las propiedades psicometricas de la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresion (HADS) en una muestra de mujeres embarazadas mexicanas. Metodo. Se aplico la HADS a 716 gestantes de entre 13 y 46 anos (M = 26.55; DE = 6.56), atendidas en un hospital publico en la Ciudad de Mexico. Resultados. Con una muestra de 358 participantes, un analisis paralelo indico una estructura bifactorial para la HADS, identificada mediante analisis factorial exploratorio (Factor 1: ansiedad, Factor 2: depresion). Los factores explicaron el 53% de la varianza y correlacionaron positivamente (r = .36). La consistencia interna global ([alpha] de Cronbach = .81, [alpha] ordinal = .93) y por fact