Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
A 10-item self-report questionnaire designed to detect cognitive and affective symptoms of depression and anxiety during the postpartum period.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was developed by Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). It is designed to measure Postpartum Depression. The scale is intended for use with Postpartum and pregnant women.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Depression, Anxiety.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | 1,2,6,7,8,9,10 | 7 |
| Anxiety | 3,4,5 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 (Absent / Normal functioning), 1 = 1 (Mild / Occasional), 2 = 2 (Moderate / Frequent), 3 = 3 (Severe / Most of the time).
The scale includes 2 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Depression unlikely: 0 – 8
- Possible depression: 9 – 12
- Probable depression: 13 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.87.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.