Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 1 (EPDS)

The following is a short questionnaire developed by Psychiatrist J.L. Cox in 1987. It is used world wide to help determine if a Mother or Father might possibly be suffering from postpartum depression.

You can print this off and check your responses right on the questionnaire OR simply read the questions off this page and make note of your responses on a seperate piece of paper.

For each question please check the answer that comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today. To achieve helpful, accurate results please try and answer the questions as honestly as possible.

Here is an example, already completed:

I have felt happy:
    Yes, all the time
Y  Yes, most of the time **This would mean: “I have felt happy most of the time” during the past week.**
    No, not very often
    No, not at all

Please complete the other questions in the same way.

In the past 7 days:

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things
As much as I always could
Not quite so much now
Definitely not so much now
Not at all

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things
As much as I ever did
Rather less than I used to
Definitely less than I used to
Hardly at all

*3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong
Yes, most of the time
Yes, some of the time
Not very often
No, never

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason
No, not at all
Hardly ever
Yes, sometimes
Yes, very often

*5 I have felt scared or panicky for no good reason
Yes, quite a lot
Yes, sometimes
No, not much
No, not at all

*6 Things have been getting on top of me:
Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at al
Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as ususal
No, most of the time I have coped quite well
No, I have been coping as well as ever

*7 I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping
Yes, most of the time
Yes, sometimes
Not very often
No, not at all

*8 I have felt sad or miserable
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Not very often
No, not at all

*9 I have been so unhappy that I have been crying
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Only occasionally
No, never

*10 The thought of harming myself has occurred to me
Yes, quite often
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never


1 Source: 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 .
2 Source: K. L. Wisner, B. L. Parry, C. M. Piontek, Postpartum Depression N Engl J Med vol. 347, No 3, July 18, 2002, 194-199
Users may reproduce the scale without further permission providing they respect copyright by quoting the names of the authors, the title and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.


Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 1 (EPDS) - Scoring

Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing. The 10-question Edinburgh
Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a valuable and efficient way of identifying patients at risk for “perinatal”
depression. The EPDS is easy to administer and has proven to be an effective screening tool.

Mothers who score above 13 are likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. The EPDS
score should not override clinical judgment. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the
diagnosis. 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.

SCORING:

QUESTIONS 1, 2, & 4 (without an *)
Are scored 0, 1, 2 or 3 with top box scored as 0 and the bottom box scored as 3.

QUESTIONS 3, 5 - 10 (marked with an *)
Are reverse scored, with the top box scored as a 3 and the bottom box scored as 0.

Maximum score: 30
Possible Depression: 10 or greater
Consider your response to Question 10 carefully.

1 Source: 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.
2 Source: K. L. Wisner, B. L. Parry, C. M. Piontek, Postpartum Depression N Engl J Med vol. 347, No 3, July 18, 2002, 194-199
Users may reproduce the scale without further permission, providing they respect copyright by quoting the
names of the authors, the title, and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.