The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a 10-item scale measuring postnatal depression of various severity. It can be used as a screening tool for identifying women with postnatal depression.
Geographies Tested: United Kingdom
Populations Included: Female
Age Range: Adolescents, Adults
In the past 7 days:
1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things
Response Options:
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
Response Options:
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
Response Options:
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
Response Options:
No, not at all
Hardly ever
Yes, sometimes
Yes, very often
5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason
Response Options:
Yes, quite a lot
Yes, sometimes
No, not much
No, not at all
6. Things have been getting on top of me
Response Options:
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
Response Options:
Yes, most of the time
Yes, sometimes
Not very often
No, not at all
8. I have felt sad or miserable
Response Options:
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
Response Options:
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Only occasionally
No, never
10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me
Response Options:
Yes, quite often
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never
Response categories are scored 0. 1.2, and 3 according to increased severity of the symptom. Items 3, and 5 - 10 are reverse scored. The total score is calculated by adding together the scores for each of the ten items.
Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The British journal of psychiatry, 150(6), 782-786. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.150.6.782
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