Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Description

Widely used scale to screen for postpartum depression in primary care.

Learning objectives

Mental health referral and office based interventions

Know indications for mental health referral during the course of primary care intervention for behavior problems.

Post-partum depression epidemiology

Know the epidemiology of post-partum depression

Recognize post-partum depression

Outline strategies to identify post-partum depression including use of screening questions, general history, and child focused complaints.

Postpartum depression is a major cause of suffering for women. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale provides an easy way to identify women experiencing postpartum depression.

The scale can be used in a primary care practice during regular follow-up visits. It can be administered and scored by office staff and reviewed during the office visit.

Download the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

References

Misri, S., Duke, M. Depression During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Journal of the Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Canada 1995; 17:657-65 [271]
Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., and Sagovsky, R. 1987. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry 150:782-786 [275]
Wisner KL, Parry BL , Piontek CM. Postpartum Depression N Engl J Med vol. 347, No 3, July 18, 2002, 194-199 [276]
Nielsen, F., Videbech, P., Hedegaard, M. Postpartum depression: identification of women at risk. BJOB, 2000. Oct;107(10): 1210-7 [273]