5/5
2 reviews
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Postnatal depression

If you have recently given birth to a baby, you may be experiencing some of the symptoms of postnatal depression. Most often, these are constant fatigue and guilt, self-doubt, depression, loss of enjoyment, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts. Postnatal depression does not necessarily occur immediately after a baby is born; it can start at any time during the first year after childbirth. According to various sources, 10 to 20% of all new mothers suffer from severe symptoms.

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

The scale was developed in Edinburgh in 1987 by Cox, Holden, and Sagovsky. According to the authors, all the questionnaires for diagnosing depression that existed at that time poorly suited young mothers, which served as the impetus for creating this test. Due to the ease of administration of results and high validity, EPDS is the most widely used tool in the world for identifying prenatal and postnatal depression today. The scale is still actively used in new research.


Instructions

It is recommended to take this test at least twice: the first time, in the late pregnancy period, the second time, at 8-16 weeks after the baby is born.
Please note that you should answer each question as you have felt in the past seven days.

I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things
I have looked forward with enjoyment to things
I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong
I have been anxious or worried for no good reason
I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason
Things have been getting on top of me
I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping
I have felt sad or miserable
I have been so unhappy that I have been crying
The thought of harming myself has occurred to me
You will also like: