Focus area: Postnatal / Postpartum Depression

Overview: Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing. The 10-question Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a valuable and efficient way of identifying patients at risk for perinatal depression. The EPDS is easy to administer and has proven to be an effective screening tool.

Total number of items: Ten

Administration: Self-report

Standardized cadence: Weekly

Estimated completion time: Five to ten minutes

Supported subscales: None

Age range: 18+

Scoring and interpretation: A clinical cutoff score of 10 is used to distinguish health controls versus possible depression. Higher scores indicate greater levels of postpartum depression. Mothers who score above 13 are likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. The EPDS score should not override clinical judgment. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. Always look at item 10 (suicidal ideation).

Reliability/Validity: The overall reliability (Cronbach's alpha) of the EPDS has been found to be adequate, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79. A significant correlation between EPDS and other measures of depression have been identified. 

Additional information: The EPDS can be used by health system professionals for detection, assessment and treatment for mothers with post partum depression.

Source: Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M. and Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782-786.