The Perinatal Assessment of Paternal Affectivity (PAPA): Italian validation of a new tool for the screening of perinatal depression and affective disorders in fathers

•Perinatal psychological distress in men can be displayed through a wide array of symptoms.•The PAPA is a new self-report tool for the screening of perinatal affective disorder in fathers.•The PAPA showed a one factor structure, adequate validity, and internal consistency.•Three months test-retest revealed a moderate temporal stability.•The PAPA is useful and simple tool for the screening of at-risk fathers.