The Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
The Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (also known as the EPDS) is a formally recognised postpartum depression screening test. It is common in Australia and is helpful at identifying and measuring:
- postpartum depression
- postpartum rage
- postpartum anxiety
- antenatal depression
- perinatal depression.
What is the EPDS?
The EPDS is a 10-question tool designed to help new and expectant parents assess their mental health. It’s a simple, relatively easy, and valuable way to detect depression early during pregnancy and after a baby is born.
It works by asking new parents about how they’ve felt in the last seven days prior to taking the test. They must select one answer from its multiple-choice questions. For example:
I have felt happy:
- Yes, all of the time
- Yes, most of the time
- No, not very often
- No, not at all
