The revised Beck Depression Inventory was administered to 109 (69 0%) black, 33 (20 9%) Hispanic, and 16 (10.1%) white adolescents who were attending prenatal and postpartum clinics offered by two inner-city hospitals at 28 wk. of pregnancy, 5 wk. postpartum, and 6 mo. postpartum. The mean Beck scores significantly decreased between 28 wk. of pregnancy and 5 wk. postpartum but did not change between 5 wk. and 6 mo. postpartum. The levels of depression were comparable to those previously reported for nonpregnant adolescent females. Using a Beck cut-off score>20 as indicative of depression, 134 (84.8%) were never depressed; 11 (7.0%) became depressed after delivery; 8 (5 1%) ceased being depressed after delivery; and 5 (3.1%) were depressed throughout.
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