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.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Rangapriya Raghavan, CCT (Old Age Psychiatry), MRCPsych. Last reviewed 2026-09-25.
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.
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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.
Why two thresholds? Lower cut-offs catch more women who have depression but also flag more who do not; higher cut-offs flag fewer but miss more. Services that can follow up everyone use a lower cut-off; the 13+ band identifies women with higher symptom levels. For more on the condition itself, read our guides to postpartum depression and perinatal mental health.
How the EPDS was developed
The EPDS was developed by John L. Cox, Jenifer Holden, and Ruth Sagovsky in Scotland and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 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 and evidence
After extensive pilot interviews, Cox and colleagues validated the EPDS in 84 mothers against Research Diagnostic Criteria from a standardised psychiatric interview; it showed satisfactory sensitivity and specificity and was sensitive to change in severity over time. The largest test of its accuracy since then is a 2020 BMJ individual-participant-data meta-analysis (58 studies, 15,557 women, 2,069 with major depression). Against semi-structured interviews, a cut-off of 10 or more gave 85% sensitivity and 84% specificity, 11 or more gave 81% and 88%, and 13 or more gave 66% and 95%; accuracy was similar in pregnancy and postpartum. In India, a study of 194 women in their third trimester at a rural antenatal clinic in Karnataka found that an EPDS cut-off of 13 or more had 100% sensitivity and 84.9% specificity for DSM-IV depression (area under the curve 0.95).
References
- Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry. 1987;150:782-786. PubMed
- Levis B, Negeri Z, Sun Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, et al. Accuracy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening to detect major depression among pregnant and postpartum women: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2020;371:m4022. PubMed
- Fernandes MC, Srinivasan K, Stein AL, et al. Assessing prenatal depression in the rural developing world: a comparison of two screening measures. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2011;14(3):209-216. PubMed
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 cognitive behavioural therapy 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.
Related assessment guides
PHQ-9
A quick 3-minute self-check for depression using the PHQ-9 — the global clinical standard. Instant score, severity band, and next-step recommendation. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →BDI-II (explained) → PHQ-9 (alternative)
The Beck Depression Inventory — the classic 21-item depression measure. Learn what it is, when to use it, and take the free PHQ-9 alternative in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →DASS-21
Measure depression, anxiety, and stress in a single 21-item scale. 4 minutes, three scores, instant clinical bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →HAM-D / HDRS-17
The clinician-administered depression severity gold standard since 1960. 17 items, 8 minutes, instant score bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →MADRS
The clinician-administered depression scale designed to detect medication response — 10 items, 5 minutes, instant clinical bands. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →MDQ
The Mood Disorder Questionnaire — the standard 13-item screener for bipolar spectrum. 3 minutes, instant screen result. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Read the guide →Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is the EPDS?
- A 2020 BMJ meta-analysis of individual data from 58 studies (15,557 pregnant and postpartum women) found that 11 or more gave the best balance: 81% sensitivity and 88% specificity against semi-structured interviews. A cut-off of 13 or more was more specific (95%) but less sensitive (66%), so it flags fewer women but misses more. Accuracy was similar in pregnancy and after birth. It screens; a clinician confirms.
- 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. Many clinicians screen at least once in the third trimester and again around the 6-week postnatal check-up, with further checks at 3 and 6 months if there are risk factors. 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. In a study at a rural antenatal clinic in Karnataka, 194 women in the third trimester completed the EPDS and a structured psychiatric interview; at a cut-off of 13 or more it identified every woman with depression (100% sensitivity) with 84.9% specificity. The EPDS is also used in Indian perinatal research and clinical services, including at Cadabams.
- What does an EPDS score of 12 mean?
- A score of 12 sits in the 10-12 possible depression band. It is above the cut-off of 11 that best balanced accuracy in a large 2020 meta-analysis, so it deserves attention: speak to your doctor, midwife or a mental-health professional within about two weeks, and retake the EPDS. If you answered anything other than Never on Question 10, seek same-day clinical contact whatever the total.
- How do you score the EPDS?
- Each of the 10 items is scored 0-3. Items 1, 2 and 4 are scored 0, 1, 2, 3 from the first answer to the last; items 3 and 5-10 are reverse-scored 3, 2, 1, 0. Add the ten scores for a total of 0-30. Because the direction changes between items, hand-scoring errors are common; the Mindtalk app scores it automatically.
- 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.