Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
What It Measures
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screens for depression during pregnancy and in the year after birth. It asks how a parent has felt over the past seven days.
Ten short statements each offer four responses scored 0 to 3, for a total from 0 to 30. Its design deliberately avoids physical symptoms like fatigue and disturbed sleep, which are normal after a new baby and would inflate scores on a general depression measure. A score above 12 suggests depressive illness of some severity. Item 10 asks about thoughts of self-harm, and any answer above zero warrants careful assessment regardless of the total.
Further Reading
Additional Notes
Licensing Notes: EPDS may be photocopied by individual researchers or clinicians for their own use without seeking permission from the publishers. Reproductions should cite the authors, title, and source.
