Glossary

Term · Postpartum: Mind

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Also: EPDS, Edinburgh scale, postnatal depression questionnaire

A ten-question screening questionnaire for low mood and anxiety in pregnancy and after birth. It is a screen, not a diagnosis.

In plain words

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, or EPDS, is a short questionnaire. It has ten questions about mood, sleep, anxiety, and thoughts about harm to oneself. Providers use it to screen for depression and . A higher score means more symptoms and a reason to talk further. A score is not a diagnosis. A provider looks at the whole picture before deciding what it means. The scale includes a question about self-harm, and any positive answer on that item needs an immediate response. A mother who has thoughts of harming herself or her baby should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text now. Many mothers complete the scale more than once over the postpartum months.

The deeper version

The EPDS (Cox, Holden, and Sagovsky, British Journal of Psychiatry, 1987) is a 10-item self-report instrument validated for antenatal and postnatal screening, with a cut-off commonly used at 13 or above to prompt further assessment. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee Opinion 757 (2018) recommends screening for at least once in the perinatal period, with the EPDS and among the accepted tools. The scale includes an item on self-harm, and a positive response requires same-day clinical assessment. Sensitivity and specificity vary with population, language, and cutoff. Controversy persists about whether the EPDS captures anxiety well and whether universal screening improves outcomes without adequate follow-up pathways.

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Sources

  • Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R — Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 1987
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Committee Opinion 757: Screening for Perinatal Depression, 2018

The Mothership Topic Wiki is general information for mothers and the people who care for them. It is not medical, legal, or mental-health advice and does not create a provider relationship. Experiences posted by members are their own. In an emergency call 911. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.