* If you scored a 1, 2 or 3 on question 10, PLEASE CALL YOUR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER (OB/Gyn, family doctor or nurse-
midwife) OR GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM NOW to ensure your
own safety and that of your baby.
If your total score is 11 or more, you could be experiencing
postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety. PLEASE CALL YOUR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER (OB/Gyn, family doctor or nurse-
midwife) now to keep you and your baby safe.
If your total score is 9-10, we suggest you repeat this test in one
week or call your health care provider (OB/Gyn, family doctor or
nurse-midwife).
If your total score is 1-8, new mothers often have mood swings
that make them cry or get angry easily. Your feelings may be
normal. However, if they worsen or continue for more than a week
or two, call your health care provider (OB/Gyn, family doctor or
nurse-midwife). Being a mother can be a new and stressful
experience. Take care of yourself by:
Getting sleep—nap when the baby naps.
Asking friends and family for help.
Drinking plenty of fluids.
Eating a good diet.
Getting exercise, even if it’s just walking outside.
Regardless of your score, if you have concerns about depression
or anxiety, please contact your health care provider.
Please note: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a screening tool
that does not diagnose postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety.
TOTAL YOUR SCORE HERE
7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty
sleeping:
Yes, most of the time ____
(3)
Yes, sometimes ____ (2)
No, not very often ____ (1)
No, not at all ____ (0)
8. I have felt sad or miserable:
Yes, most of the time ____
(3)
Yes, quite often ____ (2)
Not very often ____ (1)
No, not at all ____ (0)
9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying:
Yes, most of the time ____
(3)
Yes, quite often ____ (2)
Only occasionally ____ (1)
No, never ____ (0)
10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me:*
Yes, quite often ____
(3)
Sometimes ____ (2)
Hardly ever ____ (1)
Never ____ (0)
Below is an example already completed.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of
things:
As much as I always could ____
(0)
Not quite so much now ____ (1)
Definitely not so much now ____ (2)
Not at all ____ (3)
2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things:
As much as I ever did ____
(0)
Rather less than I used to ____ (1)
Definitely less than I used to ____ (2)
Hardly at all ____ (3)
3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went
wrong:
Yes, most of the time ____
(3)
Yes, some of the time ____ (2)
Not very often ____ (1)
No, never ____ (0)
4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason:
No, not at all ____
(0)
Hardly ever ____ (1)
Yes, sometimes ____ (2)
Yes, very often ____ (3)
5. I have felt scared or panicky for no good reason:
Yes, quite a lot ____
(3)
Yes, sometimes ____ (2)
No, not much ____ (1)
No, not at all ____ (0)
6. Things have been getting to me:
Yes, most of the time I haven’t been able to
cope at all ____
(3)
Yes, sometimes I haven’t been coping as well
as usual ____
(2)
No, most of the time I have coped quite well ____ (1)
No, I have been coping as well as ever ____ (0)
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Adapted from the British Journal of Psychiatry, June, 1987, vol. 150 by J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, R. Segovsky.
I have felt happy:
Yes, all of the time ____
(0)
Yes, most of the time ____ (1)
No, not very often ____ (2)
No, not at all ____ (3)
This would mean: “I have felt happy most of the time” in
the past week. Please complete the other questions in the
same way.
Date: Clinic Name/Number:
Your Age: Weeks of Pregnancy/Age of Baby:
Since you are either pregnant or have recently had a baby, we want to know how you feel. Please place a CHECK MARK () on
the blank by the answer that comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS—not just how you feel today. Complete all
10 items and find your score by adding each number that appears in parentheses (#) by your checked answer. This is a
screening test; not a medical diagnosis. If something doesn’t seem right, call your health care provider regardless of your score.
See more information on reverse.
Patient Label
Mother's OB or Doctor's Name:
___________________________________
Doctor's Phone #: ____________________
Thank you for completing this survey. Your doctor will
score this survey and discuss the results with you.
Verbal consent to contact above mentioned MD
witnessed by:
_______________________________________________
ABOUT THE EPDS
Studies show that postpartum depression (PPD) affects
at least 10 percent of women and that many depressed
mothers do not get proper treatment. These mothers
might 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 Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was
developed to assist health professionals in detecting
mothers suffering from PPD; a distressing disorder more
prolonged than the “blues” (which can occur in the first
week after delivery).
The scale consists of 10 short statements. A mother
checks off one of four possible answers that is closest to
how she has felt during the past week. Most mothers
easily complete the scale in less than five minutes.
Responses are scored 0, 1, 2 and 3 based on the
seriousness of the symptom. Items 3, 5 to 10 are reverse
scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is found by
adding together the scores for each of the 10 items.
Mothers scoring above 12 or 13 are likely to be
suffering from depression and should seek medical
attention. A careful clinical evaluation by a health care
professional is needed to confirm a diagnosis and
establish a treatment plan. The scale indicates how the
mother felt during the previous week, and it may be useful
to repeat the scale after two weeks.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USERS
1. The mother checks off the response that comes closest
to how she has felt during the previous seven days.
2. All 10 items must be completed.
3. Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the
mother discussing her answers with others.
4. The mother should complete the scale herself, unless
she has limited English or reading difficulties.
5. The scale can be used at six to eight weeks after birth
or during pregnancy.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scoring & Other Information
Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782-786. The Spanish version was developed at the University of Iowa based on earlier Spanish versions of the
instrument. For further information, please contact Michael W. O’Hara, Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245, e-mail:
mikeohara@uiowa.edu.
Please note: Users may reproduce this scale without further permission providing they respect the copyright (which remains with the
British Journal of Psychiatry), quote the names of the authors and include the title and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.
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.
1. He podido reír y ver el lado bueno de las cosas:
Tanto como siempre he podido hacerlo ____ 0
No tanto ahora ____ 1
Sin duda, mucho menos ahora ____ 2
No, en absoluto ____ 3
2. He mirado al futuro con placer para hacer cosas:
Tanto como siempre ____ 0
Algo menos de lo que solía hacerlo ____ 1
Definitivamente menos de lo que solía hacerlo ____ 2
Prácticamente nunca ____ 3
3. Me he culpado sin necesidad cuando las cosas
marchaban mal:
Sí, casi siempre ____ 3
Sí, algunas veces ____ 2
No muy a menudo ____ 1
No, nunca ____ 0
4. He estado ansiosa y preocupada sin motivo alguno:
No, en absoluto ____ 0
Casi nada ____ 1
Sí, a veces ____ 2
Sí, muy a menudo ____ 3
5. He sentido miedo o pánico sin motivo alguno:
Sí, bastante ____ 3
Sí, a veces ____ 2
No, no mucho ____ 1
No, en absoluto ____ 0
Escala Edinburgh para la Depresión Postnatal (Spanish Version)
6. Las cosas me oprimen o agobian:
Sí, la mayor parte del tiempo no he podido
sobrellevarlas ____ 3
Sí, a veces no he podido sobrellevarlas de
la manera ____ 2
No, la mayoría de las veces he podido
sobrellevarlas bastante bien ____ 1
No, he podido sobrellevarlas tan bien como
lo hecho siempre ____ 0
7. Me he sentido tan infeliz, que he tenido dificultad
para dormir:
Sí, casi siempre ____ 3
Sí, a veces ____ 2
No muy a menudo ____ 1
No, en absoluto ____ 0
8. Me he sentido triste y desgraciada:
Sí, casi siempre ____ 3
Sí, bastante a menudo ____ 2
No muy a menudo ____ 1
No, en absoluto ____ 0
9. Me he sentido tan infeliz que he estado llorando:
Sí, casi siempre ____ 3
Sí, bastante a menudo ____ 2
Ocasionalmente ____ 1
No, nunca ____ 0
10. He pensado en hacerme daño:
Sí, bastante a menudo ____ 3
A veces ____ 2
Casi nunca ____ 1
No, nunca ____ 0
ESCRIBA EL TOTAL DE SU PUNTAJE AQUÍ:
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Texto adaptado del British Journal of Psychiatry, Junio, 1987, vol. 150 por J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, R. Segovsky.
Nombre de participante:
Núm
ero de identificación de participante:
Fecha:
Como usted está embarazada o hace poco que tuvo un bebé, nos gustaría saber como se siente actualmente. Por favor
MARQUE (√) la respuesta que más se acerca a como se ha sentido durante LOS ÚLTIMOS 7 DÍAS y no sólo como se ha
sentido hoy.
A continuación se muestra un ejemplo completado:
Me he sentido feliz:
Sí, todo el tiempo ____ 0
Sí, la mayor parte del tiempo ____ 1
No, no muy a menudo ____ 2
No, en absoluto ____ 3
Esto significa: “Me he sentido feliz la mayor parte del
tiempo” durante la última semana. Por favor complete
las otras preguntas de la misma manera.
___________________________
_____________
_______________________________________
OB de la madre o el nombre del médico
Número de teléfono del médico
Total Score: _____
Consentimiento verbal para contacto arriba
mencionado MD presenciada por:
_____________________________________
ABOUT THE EPDS
Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2 and 3
according to increased severity of the symptom. Items 3,
5-10 are reverse scored (i.e., 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total
score is calculated by adding together the scores for each
of the ten items. Users may reproduce the scale without
further permission providing they respect copyright (which
remains with the British Journal of Psychiatry) quoting the
names of the authors, the title and the source of the
paper in all reproduced copies.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was
developed to assist primary care health professionals in
detecting mothers suffering from postpartum depression
(PPD); 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 PPD affects at least
10 percent 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 10 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 five minutes.
The validation study showed that mothers who scored
above a threshold 12/13 were likely to be suffering from a
depressive illness of varying severity. Nevertheless, the
EPDS score should not override clinical judgement. A
careful clinical assessment should be carried out to
confirm the diagnosis. The scale indicates how the mother
felt during the previous week, and in doubtful cases it may
be usefully repeated after two weeks. The scale will not
detect mothers with anxiety neuroses, phobias or
personality disorders.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USERS
1. The mother is asked to underline the response that
comes closest to how she has felt during the previous
seven days.
2. All 10 items must be completed.
3. Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the
mother discussing her answers with others.
4. The mother should complete the scale herself, unless
she has limited English or has difficulty with reading.
5. The EPDS may be used at six to eight weeks to screen
postnatal women or during pregnancy. The child health
clinic, postpartum check-up or a home visit may provide
suitable opportunities for its completion.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) Scoring & Other Information
Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782-786. The Spanish version was developed at the University of Iowa based on earlier Spanish versions of the
instrument. For further information, please contact Michael W. O’Hara, Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245, e-mail:
mikeohara@uiowa.edu.