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Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Taken from the British Journal of Psychiatry
June 1987, Vol. 150
By JL Cox, JM Holden, R Sagovsky

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale 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 centers in Livingston and Edinburgh. It consists of ten 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 5 minutes. The validation study showed that mothers who scored above threshold 92.3% were likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. Nevertheless 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 and in doubtful cases it may be usefully repeated after 2 weeks. The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias or personality disorder. 

Instructions for users

   1.The mother is asked to underline 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.

Name :
Address :
Baby's Age :

Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 according to increased
severity of the symptoms. Items marked with an asterisk are reverse cored
(i.e. 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is calculated by adding together the
scores for each of the ten items. 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.

Section 2 of 2

Medscape Women's Health 7(1), 2002. © 2002 Medscape Portals, Inc

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2002 by Medscape 
 
As you have recently had a baby, I would like to know how you are feeling.  Please UNDERLINE the answer which comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today.

   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 not very 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 all 
          Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual 
          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