Start delivering measurement based mental health care
Conduct psychological assessments remotely, get scores automatically, and maintain clinical records securely
Create account
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a 10-item self-report scale to screen for Postnatal Depression. The EPDS has been developed to assist primary care health professionals to detect mothers suffering from postnatal depression; a distressing disorder more prolonged than the 'blues' (which occur in the first week after delivery) but less severe than puerperal psychosis. The EPDS was developed at health centres in Livingston and Edinburgh. It consists of ten short statements. The mother selects which of the four possible responses is closest to how she has been feeling during the past week. Most mothers complete the scale without difficulty in less than 5 minutes.
You can create a free account on PsyPack to access fillable PDFs, manuals and educational resources for the EPDS
The EPDS consists of 10 short statements. The mother underlines which of the four possible responses is closest to how she has been feeling during the past week. Most mothers complete the scale without difficulty in less than five minutes.
Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2 and 3 according to increased severity of the symptom. Items 3, 5-10 are reverse scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is calculated by adding together the scores for each of the ten items.
The EPDS score should not override clinical judgement. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis.
EPDS Scores and Interpretation
| EPDS Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
0 – 9 | Unlikely to be suffering from a depressive illness |
10 or higher | Likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity |
Special attention must be paid to the responses to item 10 as indicator of possible risk of self-harm.
PsyPack can automatically score the EPDS assessment and prepare corresponding tables and graphs.
Depression
The purpose of the evaluation is to:
Self-administered
Clinical
Questionnaire
18 years and above
Less than 5 minutes
Since the questionnaire relies on client self-report, all responses should be verified by the clinician, and a definitive diagnosis is made on clinical grounds taking into account how well the client understood the questionnaire, as well as other relevant information from the client.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been developed to assist primary care health professionals to detect mothers suffering from postnatal depression; a distressing disorder more prolonged than the 'blues' (which occur in the first week after delivery) but less severe than puerperal psychosis.
Previous studies have shown that postnatal depression affects at least 10% of women and that many depressed mothers remain untreated. These mothers may cope with their baby and with household tasks, but their enjoyment of life is seriously affected and it is possible that there are long-term effects on the family.
The EPDS was developed at health centres in Livingston and Edinburgh. It consists of ten short statements. The mother selects which of the four possible responses is closest to how she has been feeling during the past week. Most mothers complete the scale without difficulty in less than 5 minutes.
The validation study showed that mothers who scored above a threshold 12/13 were likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. Nevertheless the EPDS score should not override clinical judgement. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. The scale indicates how the mother has felt during the previous week, and in doubtful cases it may be usefully repeated after 2 weeks. The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias or personality disorders.
Endorsement of item 10 (Suicidal Thoughts) is an indicator of possible suicidal risk. A final decision about the actual risk of self-harm requires further assessment and clinical interview. Further assessment of suicide risk can be made by asking about the “4 P’s”: past suicide attempts, a plan, probability of completing suicide, and preventive factors.
Instructions for the user:
1. The mother is asked to select the response which comes closest to how she has been feeling in the previous 7 days. 2. All ten items must be completed. 3. Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the mother discussing her answers with others. 4. The mother should complete the scale herself, unless she has limited English or has difficulty with reading. 5. The EPDS may be used at 6-8 weeks to screen postnatal women. The child health clinic, postnatal check-up or a home visit may provide suitable opportunities for its completion.
Cox, J., Holden, J., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of Postnatal Depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 782-786.