Scale Overview
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale – EPDS was developed by J. L. Cox, J. M. Holden, R. Sagovsky (1987). It is designed to measure Postnatal Depression. The scale is intended for use with Postpartum and pregnant women.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 (Low severity), 1 = 1, 2 = 2, 3 = 3 (High severity).
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:
- Depressive symptoms unlikely: 0 – 8
- Possible depression: 9 – 12
- Probable depression: 13 – 30
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.