Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

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.

Scoring instructions:

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.

A score of 12+ indicates the likelihood of depression, but not its severity. The EPDS Score is designed to assist, not replace clinical judgement.

References

1. Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. British Journal of Psychiatry 1987;150:June
2. Warner, R., Appleby, L., Whitton, A., & Faraghen, B. (1996). Demographic and obstetric risk factors for postnatal psychiatric morbidity. British Journal of Psychiatry 1996;168:607-611