edinburgh postnatal depression scale epds

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Depression

Instructions:

As you are pregnant or have recently had a baby, we would like to know how you are feeling. Please check the answer that comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today.

1I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things
0As much as I always could
1Not quite so much now
2Definitely not so much now
3Not at all
2I have looked forward with enjoyment to things
0As much as I ever did
1Rather less than I used to
2Definitely less than I used to
3Hardly at all
3I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong
3Yes, most of the time
2Yes, some of the time
1Not very often
0No, never
4I have been anxious or worried for no good reason
0No, not at all
1Hardly ever
2Yes, sometimes
3Yes, very often
5I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason
3Yes, quite a lot
2Yes, sometimes
1No, not much
0No, not at all
6Things have been getting on top of me
3Yes, most of the time I haven’t been able to cope at all
2Yes, sometimes I haven’t been coping as well as usual
1No, most of the time I have coped quite well
0No, I have been coping as well as ever
7I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping
3Yes, most of the time
2Yes, sometimes
1Not very often
0No, not at all
8I have felt sad or miserable
3Yes, most of the time
2Yes, quite often
1Not very often
0No, not at all
9I have been so unhappy that I have been crying
3Yes, most of the time
2Yes, quite often
1Only occasionally
0No, never
10The thought of harming myself has occurred to me
3Yes, quite often
2Sometimes
1Hardly ever
0Never

Description

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a short 10-item self report questionnaire designed to identify mothers at risk for prenatal and and postnatal depression. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing and rates of help-seeking for postnatal depression are generally low, making screening important. The scale indicates how the mother has felt during the previous week. In doubtful cases it may be useful to repeat the tool after 2 weeks. The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias or personality disorders.

Validity and Reliability

After extensive pilot interviews, Cox, Holden and Sagovsjy (1987) carried out a validation study on 84 mothers using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for depressive illness obtained from Goldbergs Standardised Psychiatric Interview. The EPDS was found to have satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, and was also sensitive to change in the severity of depression over time. Milgrom, Mendelsohn and Gemmill (2011) reviewed existing validation research for the EPDS and found that screening with the EPDS always facilitated an increase in identification rates, over the key range of prevalence values. The EPDS defined a sub-group with prevalence between 5-fold and 17-fold greater than the general population. A central estimate of PPV (at a prevalence of 6.8%) was 62%.

Interpretation

Mothers who score 13 and above are likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. At a score of 13 there is an 80% chance that the mother has depression. Scores 13 and above represent an increased risk of developing depression of between 5 and 17 times the general population compared to new mothers. The EPDS score should not override clinical judgment. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. Results consist of a total score as well as short interpretive text based on the cut off score of 13. It is important to always look at the client’s response to question 10, which pertains to suicidal thoughts.

Developer

Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., and Sagovsky, R. 1987. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry 150:782-786

Number Of Questions

10

References

Milgrom, J., Ericksen, J., Negri, L., & Glemmil, A. (2011). Screening for postnatal depression in routine primary care: Properties of the EPDS in an Australian sample. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 833-839.

Developer Reference:

Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., and Sagovsky, R. 1987. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry 150:782-786

Cite this article

mohammad looti (2026). Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/edinburgh-postnatal-depression-scale-epds-2/

mohammad looti. "Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/edinburgh-postnatal-depression-scale-epds-2/.

mohammad looti. "Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/edinburgh-postnatal-depression-scale-epds-2/.

mohammad looti (2026) 'Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/edinburgh-postnatal-depression-scale-epds-2/.

[1] mohammad looti, "Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.

mohammad looti. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.

Related terms:

  1. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
  2. Edinburgh Postnatal (Postpartum) Depression Scale
  3. Edinburgh Depression Scale
  4. The Brief Edinburgh Depression Scale (BEDS)
  5. Postnatal Risk Questionnaire (PNRQ)
  6. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression / Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
  7. Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)
  8. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZUNG)
  9. Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R)
  10. Duke Anxiety-Depression Scale (DUKE-AD)
Slide Up
x
PDF
Scroll to Top