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Evidence regarding the accuracy of existing anxiety screeners used in pregnancy is limited. This study compares the psychometric characteristics of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2- and 7-item Scales (GAD-2 and GAD-7), the anxiety subscale of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-3A) and the two anxiety items of the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire (ANRQ-2A). Nine hundred fifty-four women completed the screening measures and anxiety modules of a diagnostic reference standard (SAGE-SR) in the third trimester. Test performance characteristics of each measure was assessed using Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis. We applied four previously recommended criteria to ascertain the value of each measure for widespread clinical use: area under the curve (AUC ≥ 0.8, Youden's index ≥ 0.5, negative predictive value (NPV) ≥ 0.8 and positive likelihood ratio (LR +) ≥ 4.0). Prevalence for any SAGE-SR anxiety disorder was 3%. All measures yielded an acceptable AUC of ≥ 0.8, Youden's index of ≥ 0.5 and NPV of ≥ 0.8. Only the EPDS-3A, at a cut-point ≥ 5, also achieved a LR + of ≥ 4.0 (4.35) but at this cut-point sensitivity was less than 0.75. The ANRQ-2A, at its optimal cut-point of ≥ 6, was the only measure to additionally attain both a sensitivity and specificity of ≥ .75. This study expands the evidence base for brief anxiety screening measures in the maternity setting and provides empirical support for the use of the EPDS-3A and ANRQ-2A in routine screening programmes. Studies assessing the performance of these measures in samples with higher disease prevalence and broader socio-economic status are warranted., (© 2021. Crown.)

Background: Australian clinical practice guidelines support comprehensive psychosocial assessment as a routine component of maternity care., Aim: To examine the concurrent and predictive validity of the Antenatal Risk Questionnaire-Revised (ANRQ-R) when used across the perinatal period., Methods: Women completed the ANRQ-R and a diagnostic reference standard (SAGE-SR) in the second and third trimesters and at 3-months postpartum. ANRQ-R test performance for cut-off scores at each time-point was assessed using Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis., Findings: Overall sample sizes were N=1166 (second trimester), N=957 (third trimester) and N=796 (3-month postpartum). 6.5%, 5.6% and 6.2% of women met SAGE-SR criteria for any depressive or anxiety disorder at these time-points ('cases'), respectively. ROC analysis yielded acceptable areas under the curve (AUC) when the ANRQ-R was used to detect current (AUC=0.789-0.798) or predict future (AUC=0.705-0.789) depression or anxiety. Using an example cut-off score of 18 or more, the ANRQ-R correctly classified 72-76% of concurrent 'cases' and 'non-cases' (sensitivity=0.70-0.74, specificity=0.72-0.76) and correctly predicted 74-78% of postnatal 'cases' and 'non-cases' (sensitivity=0.52-0.72, specificity=0.75-0.79). Completion of the ANRQ-R earlier in pregnancy yielded greater positive likelihood ratios for predicting depression or anxiety at 3-months postpartum (cut-off ≥18: second trimester=3.8; third trimester=2.2)., Conclusion: The ANRQ-R is a structured psychosocial assessment questionnaire that can be scored to provide an overall measure of psychosocial risk. Cut-off scores need not be uniform across settings. Such decisions should be guided by factors including diagnostic prevalence rates, local needs and resource availability., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)