Description

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a psychometric tool designed to assess postnatal depression (or postpartum depression). It was developed by John Cox, Jenny Holden, and Ruth Sagovsky in 1987 and is widely used to detect depression in women who have recently given birth.
The EPDS consists of 10 questions that focus on emotional states and depressive symptoms related to the postpartum period. The questions are designed to evaluate the woman’s emotional well-being and potential signs of depression.

Objective

The primary objectives of the EPDS are:
Detection of Postnatal Depression: To assist in the early detection of postnatal depression and other related emotional difficulties.
Support in Health Care Management: To provide data that can be used for the development of treatment and support plans for women experiencing postpartum depression.
Assessment of Concerns: To record concerns and emotional difficulties that may affect the mother’s quality of life and the mental health of the family.

Scoring

The EPDS scoring involves:
Response Collection: Women respond to 10 questions concerning their mental state over the past two weeks.
Score Calculation: Each question is scored on a scale from 0 to 3. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms of depression.
Score Thresholds: Generally, scores above 10 or 12 may indicate possible postnatal depression and may require further evaluation or intervention.

Analysis

The analysis of EPDS results includes:
Symptom Assessment: Evaluation of responses to identify potential depressive symptoms and the level of emotional distress.
Impact Assessment: Assessment of how the symptoms affect the woman’s daily life and functioning.
Intervention Strategies: Development of intervention strategies or referral to specialists for the management and support of the woman’s mental health.

References

Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 782–786.
Henshaw, C., & Foreman, D. (2009). A systematic review of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in perinatal research. Journal of Affective Disorders, 113(3), 308–312.
Murray, L., & Cooper, P. J. (1996). Postpartum Depression and Child Development. Guilford Press.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) User Manual.