Supporting New Mothers Since 2001
Kim A Richardson, M.A.
Psychotherapist, Life Coach
and Postpartum Depression
Counselor.

Helping You
through the chaos to the wisdom of
discovering your unique mothering identity.

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Screening: How do I know if I have pospartum Depression?

 Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Source: British Journal of Psychiatry June, 1987, Vol. 150 by J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, R. Sagovsky

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale has been developed to assist primary care health professionals to detect mothers suffering from postnatal depression; a distressing disorder more prolonged than the "blues" (which occur in the first week after delivery) but less severe than puerperal psychosis. Previous studies have shown that postnatal depression affects at least 10% of women and that many depressed mothers remain untreated. These mothers may cope with their baby and with household tasks, but their enjoyment of life is seriously affected and it is possible that there are long-term effects on the family. The EPDS was developed at health centers in Livingston and Edinburgh. It consists of ten short statements. The mother underlines which of the four possible responses is closest to how she has been feeling during the past week. Most mothers complete the scale without difficulty in less than 5 minutes. The validation study showed that mothers who scored above threshold 92.3% were likely to be suffering from a depressive illness of varying severity. Nevertheless the EPDS score should not override clinical judgment. A careful clinical assessment should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis. The scale indicates how the mother has felt during the previous week and in doubtful cases it may be usefully repeated after 2 weeks. The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias or personality disorder.

Please note that Radiantmother.com used to display the entire EPDS but received an email from the Head of Publications at The Royal College of Psychiatrists stating that "this scale is not intended for self-rating, and should only be made available to physicians. The author of the scale is most adamant on this point. At present we are not authorising its dissemination on the web
at all." Out of respect to their wishes, I have removed the screening tool. Instead, with their permission, I will describe each of the 10 symptoms they rate on the scale.

1. Not being able to laugh or see the funny side of things as you have before (loss of sense of humor).

2. Not looking forward to things with enjoyment.

3. Unnecessarily blaming yourself when things go wrong.

4. Finding yourself anxious or worried for no good reason.

5. Feeling scared or panicky for not very good reason.

6. Feeling overwhelmed by things and not coping with demands.

7. Feeling so unhappy that you have had difficulty sleeping.

8. Having felt sad or miserable.

9. Tearfulness.

10. Thinking about harming yourself.

MOMS WHO experience many of these symptoms..

Please get help immediately even if you just feel you need to talk to someone. GET HELP AT THE FIRST SIGN OF FEELING OVERWHELMED, ANXIOUS OR UNABLE TO COPE.

With help, you can adjust to the demands of your new role and come to enjoy your baby!

Home | Postpartum Depression | Depression and Mothering | Loss | FREE Support Tools
For Fathers | New Parent Info | Mothering Politics | Nursing a Newborn | Mothering in Balance | Adopting Moms | Fertility
Letters to Radiantmother |Nutrition for Moms & Kids
Is this you?| How I work | About Us | Contact | Services | Testimonials  

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