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Home > Postpartum Depression

Do you have postpartum depression?
Take this quiz...

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was developed to help doctors determine whether a mother may be suffering from postpartum depression. According to the Depression After Delivery website, "At least one in 10 new mothers experiences various degrees of postpartum depression. Postpartum complications can occur within days of the delivery or appear gradually, sometimes up to a year or so later." Unfortunately, many moms are never treated, and although they may be coping, their enjoyment of life and family dynamics may be seriously affected. If you feel that you may be suffering from postpartum depression, it may be helpful to complete this interactive quiz and share the results with your health care provider.

Instructions:
How are you are feeling? Please choose the answer which comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS -- not just how you feel today.

ALL questions must be answered for accurate scoring.

After you answer the questions, click on "Score PPD Quiz" to view the results. If you would like to review your answers after the results have been posted, click on the "Back" button of your browser.

I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
As much as I always could
Not quite so much now
Definitely not so much now
Not at all


I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
As much as I ever did
Rather less than I used to
Definitely less than I used to
Hardly at all


* I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, some of the time
Not very often
No, never


I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
No, not at all
Hardly ever
Yes, sometimes
Yes, Very often


* I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
Yes quite a lot
Yes, sometimes
No, not much
No, not at all


* Things have been getting on top of me.
Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
No, most of the time I have coped quite well
No I have been coping as well as ever


* I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
Yes, most of the time
Yes sometimes
Not very often
No, not at all


* I have felt sad or miserable.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Not very often
No, not at all


* I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Only occasionally
No, never


* The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
Yes, quite often
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never

Scoring:
Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 according to increased severity of the symptoms. Items marked with an asterisk (*) 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.

A score of 12+ indicates the likelihood of depression, but not its severity.

Users may reproduce the scale without further permission providing they respect copyright by quoting the names of the authors, the title and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.

References

Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Jun;150:782-6.

PDF Printable version from brightfutures.org



Page last modified: 03/03/2005
Written: 11/17/02

Disclaimer: All material on this website is provided for educational purposes only, although every effort is made to provide accurate and up-to-date information. Unless otherwise noted, the articles at this website are not written by doctors or other health care professionals. If you are concerned about your health, or that of your child, consult with your health care provider regarding the advisability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your individual situation.
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