Free postpartum quiz · For new & expecting parents · EPDS
Free postpartum depression quiz.
Ten questions about the past week, about three minutes. This is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the most widely used screener for depression in pregnancy and after birth. It will not diagnose you, but it can help you name what has been hard to say out loud.
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About this screener
The weeks around birth can be heavier than anyone says.
New and expecting parents are often told this is the happiest time of their life, which can make it even harder to admit when it is not. The EPDS gently asks how the past week has actually felt: whether you can still laugh and look forward to things, whether worry or sadness has crept in, whether you have been sleeping and coping.
Answer for how you have felt in the past 7 days, not just today. When you finish, you will see your score, what it suggests in plain language, and a next step if you want one.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was developed by J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, and R. Sagovsky (1987). It may be reproduced with the source cited and without modification, and is reproduced here for educational screening use.
You are allowed to need support
Maternal mental health care in North County.
Becoming a parent can bring joy and grief and fear all at once, and none of that makes you a bad parent. Our clinicians specialize in the perinatal season, holding space for what you are actually going through. In Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista, or online across California. It starts with a free 15-minute consultation.
Further reading
More from the Undercurrent.
Questions
About the postpartum quiz.
01 Is this an official diagnosis of postpartum depression?
No. The EPDS is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. It measures how you have felt over the past week. Only a clinical evaluation can tell you whether you are experiencing postpartum or perinatal depression.
02 How accurate is the EPDS?
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is the most widely used and well-validated screener for depression during pregnancy and after birth, used in clinics around the world. It is very good at flagging when a fuller conversation is warranted, though it is a snapshot rather than the whole picture.
03 What do the score ranges mean?
Higher totals mean more symptoms over the past week. A score of 10 to 12 suggests possible depression and further conversation is recommended, and 13 or higher suggests probable depression. Any response above the lowest option on the final question is a reason to seek support right away.
04 Can I take this during pregnancy, not just after birth?
Yes. Although it began as a postnatal screener, the EPDS is validated and widely used during pregnancy too. Perinatal simply means the time around pregnancy and birth, and support is available at every stage.
05 What if I am having thoughts of harming myself?
Please reach out for support right now. You can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and available 24/7, or call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room if you are in immediate danger. You do not have to be in crisis to ask for help, and you do not have to face this alone.
Ready when you are
You do not have to do this alone.
Starting is a small step: a short, no-pressure conversation to see if we are a good fit. We would be glad to hear from you.