EPDS Postnatal Depression Scale Calculator

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no good reason

6. Things have been overwhelming to the point that it affected my ability to cope

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping

8. I have felt sad or miserable

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me

EPDS Postnatal Depression Scale Explanation and Clinical Context
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a validated screening questionnaire designed to identify mothers who are at risk of developing postpartum depressive symptoms. It evaluates emotional and psychological wellbeing in the early postpartum period through ten items that capture sadness anxiety guilt loss of enjoyment and intrusive self harm thoughts. Scores range from zero to thirty with higher values indicating more significant depressive symptoms. A score of ten or more suggests possible postpartum depression and a score of thirteen or more indicates a higher probability of clinically relevant depressive symptoms that require further assessment. Item ten which asks about thoughts of self harm always warrants immediate clinical attention regardless of the total score. EPDS assists clinicians in early recognition of maternal mood disturbances improving opportunities for timely intervention mother infant bonding support and prevention of long term consequences.

Reference
Cox JL Holden JM Sagovsky R Detection of postnatal depression Development of the ten item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale British Journal of Psychiatry 1987 150 782 786

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