Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
Score the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a ten-item validated screen for perinatal and postpartum depression.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- EPDS item 1
- 1
- EPDS item 2
- 1
- EPDS item 3
- 1
- EPDS item 4
- 1
- EPDS item 5
- 0
- EPDS item 6
- 1
- EPDS item 7
- 1
- EPDS item 8
- 1
- EPDS item 9
- 0
- EPDS item 10
- 0
Result: Score 7 of 30 = Low likelihood.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- <10
- Lower likelihood of depressive illness.
- 10-12
- Possible depression; repeat or further assessment per source.
- >=13
- Likely depressive illness of varying severity.
- Item 10 positive
- Any positive response on the self-harm item warrants immediate further assessment.
What you enter
- EPDS item 1 (0-3)
- EPDS item 2 (0-3)
- EPDS item 3 (0-3)
- EPDS item 4 (0-3)
- EPDS item 5 (0-3)
- EPDS item 6 (0-3)
- EPDS item 7 (0-3)
- EPDS item 8 (0-3)
- EPDS item 9 (0-3)
- EPDS item 10 (0-3)
What this is
Each item asks about how the patient has felt in the past seven days, rated 0-3, for a total range of 0-30. The commonly used cutoff for likely depression is 10 or higher, and 13 or higher is more specific. Item 10 asks directly about thoughts of self-harm; any non-zero response on item 10 is a positive screen on its own and requires immediate clinical follow-up regardless of total score.
When to use it
Use this at every routine prenatal visit and at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month postpartum visits, consistent with ACOG and AAP recommendations for universal perinatal mood screening. The EPDS is also validated for partners and for use during pregnancy, not only after birth. A positive screen is the start of a diagnostic conversation, not the diagnosis itself - the score is meaningful only paired with a same-visit clinical assessment and a documented plan for treatment, referral, or close interval follow-up.
How this is calculated
Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. EPDS. Br J Psychiatry. 1987;150:782-786. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.
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