Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Written by Stephanie Watson
Medically Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on May 05, 2025
6 min read

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is an easy-to-take, self-administered questionnaire that you can use to screen yourself, or a loved one, for depression during pregnancy and in the first 12 months after your baby's birth. 

The EPDS includes 10 multiple-choice questions that ask you to describe how you've felt during the past seven days. The questions cover the types of thoughts and feelings that are more common in people who have symptoms of depression after childbirth, such as guilt, anxiety, and difficulty coping.

This scale gets its name from the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is where it was developed. The EPDS is the most widely used postpartum depression screening tool in the world. Mental health experts have evaluated it and found it to be highly accurate at identifying whether people have postpartum depression.

"It is usually administered several times in pregnancy, at the first postpartum visit – usually around six weeks postpartum – and then at six and 12 months postpartum," says Eleanor Curry, MD, a psychiatrist at Mindpath Health in Davis, California, who specializes in maternal mental health care. 

Your score will show whether you're at risk for perinatal depression and if you could benefit from treatment. It's also an accurate tool for assessing depression symptoms in your partner, Curry says.

What is postnatal depression?

Postnatal depression is a mood disorder that affects about 13% of people after they give birth. It involves feelings of intense sadness, depression, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy doing. Postpartum depression is essentially the same thing – depression that occurs after childbirth.

Although postpartum depression can happen at any time within the first year after your child is born, it most often starts in the first three weeks after your baby's birth.

Many new parents with postpartum depression don't get treated. Having postpartum depression makes it harder to care for yourself and your baby. Untreated depression can also interfere with your ability to bond with and breastfeed your baby. And it can increase your risk for major depression and suicide.

It's very common to feel sad, moody, or cranky after having a baby. Doctors call these symptoms the "baby blues" when they last for less than two weeks. But if the sadness lingers for more than two weeks, it could be postpartum depression.

Look for signs like these that you might have postpartum depression:

  • You feel very sad, empty, or hopeless most of the time. 
  • You cry a lot, often for no obvious reason.
  • You've lost interest in things you used to enjoy.
  • You sleep too much or too little.
  • You feel very anxious, worried, or panicky.
  • You've lost your appetite or you eat too much.
  • You've gained or lost weight without trying.
  • You feel worthless, guilty, or like you're a failure.
  • You have trouble concentrating and remembering things.
  • You get irritable or angry easily.
  • You don't have energy or you feel very tired a lot.
  • You don't want to be with friends and family.
  • You have trouble bonding with and caring for your baby.
  • You have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby.

See a doctor who may have you take the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Get help right away if you have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby.

You can find the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale online or get it from a mental health care provider. It's a self-administered questionnaire that you take before or during your appointment and score yourself. It takes about 5 minutes to complete.

For each of the 10 questions, choose the answer that is closest to how you've been feeling for the last seven days. 

These are a few examples of EPDS screening questions:

  1. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things:

    • [+0] As much as I ever did 
    • [+1] Rather less than I used to 
    • [+2] Definitely less than I used to
    • [+3] Hardly at all

  2. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason:

    • [+0] No, not at all
    • [+1] Hardly ever
    • [+2] Yes, sometimes
    • [+3] Yes, very often

  3. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying:

    • [+0] No, never
    • [+1] Only occasionally
    • [+2] Yes, quite often
    • [+3] Yes, most of the time

  4. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me:

    • [+0] Never
    • [+1] Hardly ever
    • [+2] Sometimes
    • [+3] Yes, quite often

The last question is especially important because it deals with self-harm. How you respond is something you'll want to discuss with your provider right away.

The scale contains 10 questions in total, and each answer is given a score from 0 to 3. The maximum you can score is 30. 

Scores are divided into ranges based on how severe your depression is:

  • 0 to 6: No or minimal depression
  • 7 to 13: Mild depression
  • 14 to 19: Moderate depression
  • 19 to 30: Severe depression

Edinburgh postnatal depression scale score interpretation

Often doctors use a score of 13 as a cutoff to determine who has postpartum depression and who doesn't. A number higher than 13 means you likely have postpartum depression, but it's still possible to have postpartum depression with a lower score. 

"A score of 10 or above indicates a high likelihood of depression and the need for additional evaluation and intervention," Curry says.

Because everyone with depression is different, your score alone can't tell the whole story about how you feel and whether you need treatment. 

EPDS screening is not a diagnostic tool. That means it can't diagnose you with postpartum depression. It simply identifies whether you could benefit from mental health screening. See a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional to confirm the diagnosis. The postpartum depression scale also can't detect anxiety disorders, phobias, or personality disorders. 

If you scored 10 or higher on EPDS screening, or you think you might have postpartum depression, don't let it go. Caring for a new baby is stressful enough. Trying to do it with depression is even harder. Make an appointment with your OB/GYN or a mental health professional for a full evaluation.

Your provider will assess you and determine whether you need treatment, and if so, which treatment is most appropriate. 

"Your doctor will discuss the results, ask you some more questions, and provide next steps," Curry says. "In some cases, the screening may be repeated after two weeks."

Antidepressants and talk therapy can help improve mood in people with postpartum depression. Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) is the first medicine to be approved just for postpartum depression. It comes as a pill that you take for 14 days. Your doctor can let you know whether it's safe for you to breastfeed while taking an antidepressant or zuranolone.

Good support is also important. Organizations like Postpartum Support International offer virtual support groups for new parents with depression. Hospitals and community centers host in-person and virtual groups. Ask your OB/GYN to recommend a support group in your area.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a questionnaire that any new parent can take to screen themselves for postpartum depression. It includes 10 questions about how you've felt during the last seven days. The EPDS can't diagnose postpartum depression. For a diagnosis and treatment, you need to see a mental health care provider.

What is a normal EPDS score?

A score below 10 means that you have a low risk for postpartum depression.

What is the cutoff for the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale?

Doctors use a score of 13 as the cutoff for postpartum depression, but it's possible to have depression with a lower score.

What is a 14 on the EPDS?

A score of 14 means that you may have postpartum depression.

What is the difference between the PHQ-9 and theEdinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale?

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a nine-item questionnaire that helps doctors screen for and assess the severity of depression in adults. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale specifically screens for depression after a baby's birth (postpartum or postnatal depression).