EPDS Test — Free Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (10-Item)
The gold-standard postnatal depression screener. 10 questions, 3 minutes, instant score with clinical context. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Important safety information
The EPDS includes a question about thoughts of self-harm (question 10). If you have had any such thoughts recently, please reach out for support before or instead of taking this assessment — you do not need to take a test to deserve help.
- iCall India: 9152987821
- Vandrevala Foundation: 1860 2662 345
- AASRA: +91 98204 66726
- Cadabams 24/7: +91 97414 76476
All lines listed are free and confidential.
The 10 EPDS questions
The scale asks how you have felt in the past 7 days (not just today). Each item is scored 0-3, but the scoring direction differs by item — for some items, agreeing more strongly means a higher score; for others, less. This is why manual EPDS scoring is error-prone and why the Mindtalk app does the scoring for you.
The 10 items ask about:
- Being able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
- Looking forward with enjoyment to things.
- Blaming yourself unnecessarily when things go wrong.
- Being anxious or worried for no good reason.
- Feeling scared or panicky for no very good reason.
- Things getting on top of you.
- Being so unhappy that you have had difficulty sleeping.
- Feeling sad or miserable.
- Being so unhappy that you have been crying.
- The thought of harming yourself has occurred to you. (safety item — see crisis information above)
Total score ranges 0-30.
EPDS score interpretation
| Score | Severity | What it means | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-9 | Low likelihood | Symptoms not typical of clinical depression | Continue routine check-ins; retake if life circumstances change |
| 10-12 | Possible depression | Symptoms above the "possible" threshold | Clinical follow-up in 2 weeks; retake in 2 weeks |
| 13-30 | Probable depression | Symptoms consistent with clinical postnatal depression | Clinical evaluation this week; treatment planning |
| Question 10 positive | Safety flag | Any positive response to self-harm question | Same-day clinical contact regardless of total score |
Special rule: any response other than "Never" on Question 10 (thoughts of self-harm) requires same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. A score of 8 with a positive Question 10 is more clinically urgent than a score of 18 without it.
How the EPDS was developed
The EPDS was developed by John L. Cox, Jenifer Holden, and Ruth Sagovsky at the Universities of Edinburgh and Livingston in 1987 (British Journal of Psychiatry, 1987). It was designed as a self-report screener specifically for the postpartum period — because the standard depression scales of the day (HAM-D, BDI) confounded normal postpartum physical symptoms (sleep disruption, appetite changes, fatigue) with depression, producing high false-positive rates in new mothers.
The EPDS deliberately avoids somatic-symptom items. All 10 items focus on cognitive and emotional experience — not sleep, appetite, or energy — which is why it discriminates postpartum depression from normal postpartum adjustment.
Validation drew on 84 mothers at the initial development, then extended to thousands of women across the UK. Subsequent studies have validated the instrument in 60+ countries and 40+ languages including validated Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Marathi versions. It is the recommended screener of the WHO, the UK NICE guidelines, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Government of India's perinatal-mental-health guidelines.
EPDS vs other depression tests
| Test | Items | Time | Best for | Perinatal validation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPDS | 10 | 3 min | Antenatal + postnatal depression screening | Gold standard |
| PHQ-9 | 9 | 3 min | General depression screening + treatment monitoring | Yes, but includes somatic items |
| BDI-II | 21 | 5 min | Deeper depression severity mapping | Yes, but includes somatic items |
| DASS-21 | 21 | 4 min | Depression + Anxiety + Stress combined | Not primary perinatal instrument |
| HAM-D | 17 | 4 min | Clinician-administered detailed assessment | Not preferred perinatal instrument |
Use the EPDS during pregnancy and the first postpartum year. The PHQ-9 is a reasonable alternative when perinatal-specific validation is not needed. For deeper severity mapping alongside the EPDS, some clinicians add the BDI-II.
When to act on your EPDS result
- Score 0-9: No action needed. Continue routine antenatal or postnatal check-ins. Retake if life circumstances change (return to work, sleep disruption, relationship stress).
- Score 10-12 (possible depression): Clinical follow-up recommended within 2 weeks. Behavioural activation and postnatal-tailored CBT are first-line; medication may or may not be needed depending on breastfeeding status and history.
- Score 13-30 (probable depression): Clinical evaluation needed this week. CBT with perinatal-specific adaptation, IPT (well-evidenced for postnatal), or combination therapy + medication depending on severity, history, and breastfeeding considerations.
- Question 10 positive (any response other than "Never"): Same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. Crisis helplines are listed at the top of this page. If you are having active thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call emergency services immediately.
After the EPDS
- Track over time. Retake at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months postpartum if any risk factor is present (previous depression, sleep disruption, relationship stress, birth trauma). The Mindtalk app charts response over the perinatal year.
- Screen anxiety too. Perinatal anxiety is more common than perinatal depression and often co-occurs. Take the GAD-7 alongside. The Postpartum Anxiety-specific scales (PSAS) are also available in the Mindtalk app.
- Start a structured programme. Cadabams' perinatal-specific counselling protocols run 8-12 weeks and are calibrated to postnatal EPDS scores in the 13-19 band.
- Medication + breastfeeding. Several antidepressants are compatible with breastfeeding; treatment decisions balance maternal mental-health need against infant exposure. A perinatal psychiatrist is the right specialist to consult.
- Book a specialist. Mindtalk's perinatal psychiatrists and psychologists treat antenatal and postnatal depression across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, tell the clinician at booking so medication planning starts from the right premise.
How to take the EPDS
- 1
Open the EPDS in the Mindtalk app
Tap "Take the EPDS" to open the assessment in the Mindtalk app. You will need a free Mindtalk account — sign-in takes under a minute.
- 2
Answer the 10 questions
For each of the 10 items, choose how you have felt over the past 7 days (scored 0-3, direction differs by item). Take your time on Question 10, which asks about thoughts of self-harm.
- 3
Get your score and recommendation
You receive a total score (0-30), a severity band, and a personalised next-step recommendation. If you flag Question 10, the app immediately surfaces same-day crisis support resources alongside the recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is the EPDS?
- The EPDS is the most extensively validated perinatal depression screener in clinical use. A score of 13 or higher has approximately 86% sensitivity and 78% specificity for major depression in the postpartum period; the 10 cut-off improves sensitivity at the cost of specificity, useful in low-resource settings where clinical follow-up is planned for all positive screens. It is used in every major postnatal depression treatment trial and in primary-care and obstetric practice across 60+ countries.
- When during pregnancy or postpartum should I take the EPDS?
- The EPDS is validated for use during pregnancy (any trimester), immediately postpartum, and up to one year postpartum. WHO and Indian obstetric guidelines recommend routine EPDS screening at least once in the third trimester and again at the 6-week postnatal check-up; many clinicians add 3-month and 6-month postpartum checks. If you are experiencing symptoms outside these formal touchpoints, the EPDS is worth taking any time.
- What's a normal EPDS score?
- Scores fall into three bands: 0-9 (low likelihood of depression — typical), 10-12 (possible depression — clinical follow-up recommended), 13-30 (probable depression — clinical evaluation warranted). Question 10 (self-harm) is scored separately: any positive response requires same-day clinical contact regardless of total score. A score of 8 with a positive Question 10 is more clinically urgent than a score of 18 without it.
- Is the EPDS validated for use with fathers or partners?
- Yes — partial. The EPDS has been used and validated with fathers in the postnatal period, though most studies suggest a slightly lower cut-off (10 or 11 rather than 13) works better for detecting paternal postnatal depression. Paternal postnatal depression affects an estimated 8-10% of new fathers and is under-screened. If you are a father or non-birthing partner concerned about your mood, the EPDS is still a reasonable first-line screener; discuss the result with a clinician.
- Is the EPDS used in India?
- Yes. The EPDS has been validated in Indian populations across Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Marathi. It is used at NIMHANS, AIIMS, Cadabams, and multiple state-level maternal-health programmes. The Government of India's LaQshya perinatal-mental-health guidelines recommend routine EPDS screening at antenatal and postnatal touchpoints.
- What's the difference between postnatal depression and the 'baby blues'?
- Baby blues affect an estimated 60-80% of new mothers in the first 2 weeks postpartum — brief episodes of tearfulness, mood swings, and irritability that resolve on their own by day 14. Postnatal depression is longer, deeper, and more impairing — persistent low mood, loss of pleasure, sleep and appetite disruption, and often intrusive thoughts about the baby or self. The EPDS is designed to distinguish the two: taken after week 2, a score of 13+ is very unlikely to be baby blues alone.
- How do I take the EPDS?
- Click 'Take the EPDS'. Complete the 10 items (2-3 minutes), receive your score and severity band, and get a personalised next-step recommendation. If you score 13+ or flag Question 10, the app routes you to clinical booking immediately. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.