Figure. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale has been developed to assist primary care health professionals in detecting mothers suffering from postnatal depression. 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 fewer than five 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 two weeks. The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias, or personality disorder.
| Name: | |
| Address: | |
| Baby�s age: |
As you have recently had a baby, we would like to know how you are feeling. Please UNDERLINE the answer that comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST SEVEN DAYS, not just how you feel today.
Here is an example, already completed:
I have felt happy
Yes, all the timeYes, most of the time
No, not very often
No, not at all
This would mean: �I have felt happy most of the time� during the past week. Please complete the other questions in the same way.
In the past seven days:
1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things:
As much as I always couldNot 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 didRather 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 timeYes, some of the time
Not very often
No, never
4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
No, not at allHardly ever
Yes, sometimes
Yes, very often
5.* I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
Yes, quite a lotYes, 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 timeYes, sometimes
No, not very often
No, not at all
8.* I have felt sad or miserable.
Yes, most of the timeYes, quite often
No, not very often
No, not at all
9.* I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
Yes, most of the timeYes, quite often
No, only occasionally
No, never
10.* The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
Yes, quite oftenSometimes
Hardly ever
Never
Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 according to increased severity of the symptoms. Items marked with an asterisk are reverse scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is calculated by adding together the scores for each of the 10 items.
Used with permission from Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry 1987; 150:782-876.