Calculator · Mental health

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Perinatal depression screen (10 items, 0–30).

What it is for

Antenatal & postnatal mood screening. ≥ 13 likely depression; item 10 = self-harm flag.

Use the working calculator

The working Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale calculator is on our calculators page. It is free and needs no account. Enter the values and it shows the result with the reading that goes with it.

Open the working calculatorAll calculatorsStart a 7-day free trial
The calculators are free. The trial opens the protocols and pathways they link to.

What you enter

The calculator asks for 10 items.

In the past 7 days:

  • 1. Able to laugh and see the funny side of thingsOptions: As much as I always could; Not quite so much now; Definitely not so much now; Not at all
  • 2. Looked forward with enjoyment to thingsOptions: As much as I ever did; Rather less than I used to; Definitely less than I used to; Hardly at all
  • 3. Blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrongOptions: Yes, most of the time; Yes, some of the time; Not very often; No, never
  • 4. Anxious or worried for no good reasonOptions: No, not at all; Hardly ever; Yes, sometimes; Yes, very often
  • 5. Scared or panicky for no good reasonOptions: Yes, quite a lot; Yes, sometimes; No, not much; No, not at all
  • 6. Things have been getting on top of meOptions: Yes, most of the time not coping; Yes, sometimes not coping as well; No, mostly coped well; No, coping as well as ever
  • 7. So unhappy I had difficulty sleepingOptions: Yes, most of the time; Yes, sometimes; Not very often; No, not at all
  • 8. Felt sad or miserableOptions: Yes, most of the time; Yes, quite often; Not very often; No, not at all
  • 9. So unhappy I have been cryingOptions: Yes, most of the time; Yes, quite often; Only occasionally; No, never
  • 10. Thought of harming myselfOptions: Yes, quite often; Sometimes; Hardly ever; Never

How the result is read

The result is shown as EPDS, out of a maximum of 30.

The calculator reads each total as follows. Where a single answer changes the reading (for example sex, age or one extreme value), the working calculator says so.

TotalBandWhat the calculator says
0 to 9Low likelihoodReassure; re-screen later in perinatal period.
10 to 12Possible depressionClinical assessment; repeat in 2 weeks; consider support. Borderline — use clinical judgement.
13 to 30Likely depressionFull assessment; perinatal mental-health pathway (NICE CG192). ≥ 13 suggests a depressive illness.

Sources

These are the sources the calculator cites. Check the current version before relying on a threshold.

Related

PHQ-9 (depression)Depression severity over the last 2 weeks (9 items, 0–27).GAD-7 (anxiety)Generalised anxiety severity over the last 2 weeks (7 items, 0–21).AUDIT-C (alcohol screen)Brief alcohol-use screen (3 items, 0–12).AUDIT (full, 10-item)Detailed alcohol-use disorder screen (0–40).PHQ-2 (depression screen)Two-item depression case-finding (0–6).All calculators60 clinical scores and tools

For qualified clinicians. A score supports a clinical decision and does not make it: check the inputs, read the cited source, and use the tools in your clinical system for patient care where one is provided.