Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
10-item screening - Postnatal depression symptom check
Feeling low after having your baby? The EPDS screens for postnatal depression with 10 quick questions. Used by midwives and GPs worldwide. About 3 minutes.
What Is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)?
The EPDS screens for postnatal depression with 10 quick questions. Cox, Holden, and Sagovsky created it in 1987, and it is now a standard screening tool in perinatal care — used by midwives, GPs, and recommended by NICE (UK) and ACOG (US).
Scoring
Each item scores 0-3, total range 0-30.
- 0-9: Low risk
- 10-12: Possible depression — further assessment recommended
- 13-30: Probable depression — professional help recommended
Scoring Guide
Score range 0-30 (0-3 per item). 0-9 low risk, 10-12 possible depression, 13-30 probable depression. Item 10 is critical: score >=1 requires immediate attention. Cronbach alpha = 0.87-0.92. Reference: Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R (1987). Detection of postnatal depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150:782-786.Result Interpretation
After completing the 10 questions, you'll get a detailed results report right away:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. You don't need an account or login.