EPDS Postpartum Mood Self-Assessment

About the EPDS

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a 10-item questionnaire developed in 1987 to help health visitors and clinicians detect depression after childbirth; it is now validated for use during pregnancy as well. It asks how you have felt over the past 7 days across mood, anxiety, coping, sleep, and thoughts of self-harm. Scores of 9-12 suggest possible depression worth monitoring; 13+ suggests probable depression warranting evaluation. Question 10 (self-harm) is reviewed on its own — any positive answer matters regardless of the total.

How scores are interpreted

Score	What it suggests
0–8	Low Likelihood of Depression
9–12	Possible Depression
13–30	Probable Depression — Evaluation Recommended

Source & license: Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782–786. © The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Reproduced with full citation as permitted by the authors for clinical and screening use.

When to seek professional help

If you scored 9 or higher, answered anything but "Never" on question 10, or simply don’t feel like yourself — tell your OB, midwife, or primary care provider, and consider connecting with a perinatal-informed therapist. If your screening results suggest you may benefit from professional support, our licensed therapists serve clients in person in Bentonville and via telehealth throughout Arkansas. Call (479) 259-1390 or book a free 15-minute consultation.

Understanding Your Perinatal Mood Self-Screen

If you have just finished the questions above, you may be wondering what your number actually means and what comes next. The sections below explain, in plain language, what this brief self-screen looks at, how to make sense of the result, and the practical steps a new or expecting parent can take. Nothing here is meant to alarm you. Difficult feelings after a baby arrives are extraordinarily common, and noticing them is a sign of strength, not failure.

What This Screener Measures

This self-screen follows the structure of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a widely used 10-item questionnaire designed specifically for the perinatal period — pregnancy and the year after birth. Rather than asking about physical changes that are normal in new parents (such as fatigue or appetite shifts), it focuses on the emotional experience of the past seven days. The ten questions touch on five overlapping areas of perinatal wellbeing:

• Mood and the ability to feel pleasure — whether you can still laugh, look forward to things, and enjoy moments with your baby.
• Anxiety and worry — feeling tense, on edge, or panicky for little reason, which is one of the most common perinatal experiences.
• Guilt, self-blame, and feeling overwhelmed — blaming yourself unnecessarily or feeling that things are piling up.
• Sleep disrupted by worry — not the normal interrupted sleep of caring for a newborn, but difficulty sleeping because your mind will not settle.
• Thoughts of self-harm — the final question is reviewed entirely on its own, because any such thought, even a fleeting one, deserves immediate support.

It is worth saying clearly what the EPDS does not do. It does not measure your worth as a parent, it does not diagnose any condition, and it cannot, on its own, distinguish depression from perinatal anxiety, the “baby blues” of the first two weeks, bipolar disorder, or the rare but serious emergency of postpartum psychosis. It is a starting conversation, not a verdict.

How to Understand Your Results

The most important thing to know is this: a screen is not a diagnosis. A questionnaire can flag that something may be worth a closer look, but only a licensed clinician — through a conversation that considers your history, your circumstances, and the full context of your life — can actually diagnose a perinatal mood or anxiety condition. A higher score does not mean you definitely have depression, and a lower score does not guarantee that everything is fine. Numbers are a prompt for reflection and, when appropriate, a reason to reach out.

It also helps to remember that mood after birth can change week to week. Hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, and the sheer adjustment of caring for a new person all affect how you feel. Many parents who screen positive one week feel meaningfully better a few weeks later with rest, support, and the chance to talk things through. Others find that the feelings persist or deepen — and that, too, is treatable. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health describes perinatal depression as a common and treatable medical condition, and notes that effective options including talk therapy are available (NIMH: Perinatal Depression). Whatever your result, treat it as information, not a label.

What to Do Next

There is no “right” score that earns you support and no threshold you must reach before you are allowed to ask for help. If you are struggling, you deserve care. Here are some practical, low-pressure next steps:

• Tell someone you trust. Saying the words out loud — to a partner, friend, OB, midwife, or pediatrician — is often the hardest and most relieving first step.
• Mention it at your next medical visit. Perinatal screening is now a routine part of obstetric and pediatric care, and your provider can help coordinate next steps. If medication is ever part of the conversation, that decision rests with your primary care provider or a prescriber; as a therapy practice, we are glad to coordinate with them.
• Consider talking with a perinatal-informed therapist. Counseling gives you a confidential, judgment-free place to process the transition, build coping skills, and feel like yourself again. You can book a free 15-minute consultation or call us at (479) 259-1390 with no obligation.
• Connect with Postpartum Support International (PSI). PSI offers a free, confidential helpline, online support groups, and a directory of perinatal mental health providers nationwide: call or text the PSI HelpLine at 1-800-944-4773 (English & Spanish). The free, 24/7 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262 is also available for new and expecting parents.

At ZipHealthy, our licensed clinical social workers support new and expecting parents in person at our downtown Bentonville office and by secure video across Arkansas. Care can begin with individual therapy, and some parents also find connection through group therapy or structured DBT skills groups for managing intense emotions. If cost is on your mind, our pricing and what-to-expect page and good faith estimate explain things clearly and up front.

A Brief Safety Note

ZipHealthy does not provide emergency or crisis services; the resources above are staffed around the clock for exactly these moments.

Related Screeners & Resources

Perinatal mood concerns rarely travel alone. Many new parents also notice anxiety, low mood, or the lingering effects of a difficult birth or past experiences. If any of those resonate, these brief self-screens and resource pages may be a helpful next read:

• Depression therapy in Northwest Arkansas — and our related depression self-screen for ongoing low mood.
• Anxiety treatment in Bentonville — and our brief anxiety self-screen, since perinatal anxiety is very common.
• EMDR therapy — a structured approach often used when a hard birth experience or earlier trauma is part of the picture.
• Telehealth therapy across Arkansas — convenient secure video sessions for parents who can’t easily leave home with a newborn.
• Browse all behavioral health services to see the full range of therapy and group options.

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For educational and personal development purposes. Not a substitute for professional therapy.