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Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

As you are pregnant or 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 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today.

In the past 7 days:

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• No, not at all
• Hardly ever
• Yes, sometimes
• Yes, very often

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

• Yes, quite a lot
• Yes, 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, have been coping as well as ever

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

• Yes, most of the time
• Yes, sometimes
• Not very often
• No, not at all

*8. I have felt sad or miserable

• 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

• Yes, most of the time
• Yes, quite often
• Only occasionally
• No, never

*10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me

• Yes, quite often
• Sometimes
• Hardly ever
• Never

Scoring the EPDS

The EPDS is only a screening tool. It does not diagnose depression; for that, you need to see a licensed health care professional. Responses are scored 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to increased severity of the symptom. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are reverse scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is determined by adding together the scores for each of the 10 items. If you score 9 or more points or indicate any suicidal thoughts — that is, you score 1 or higher on question 10 — you should immediately follow up with your doctor. If you score less than 9, but still exhibit symptoms of depression or feel like something isn’t right, don't hesitate or assume things will “just get better” — put in a call to your ob/gyn right away. Your provider can work with you — or refer you to someone who can — to put you on the road to being the healthiest mom you can be.  

Published June 26, 2012. 

Jen Lazuta recently earned her Master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism and is a Chicago-based freelance writer. 

Additional reporting by Lora Shinn.