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Categories: Assessment , Health & Fitness , Psychology
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The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) assesses a parent’s emotional well-being during the first post-partum year. Its ten concise questions highlight mood changes, anxiety, and self-perception, enabling early recognition of potential depression and facilitating timely conversations with health-care professionals. Developed and validated in clinical research, the EPDS is used worldwide by midwives, obstetricians, and mental-health teams.

Each item offers four response options scored from 0 to 3. Positively worded questions are reverse-scored, ensuring higher totals always represent greater depressive symptom severity. Adding all ten values produces a composite score from 0 to 30, which maps to minimal, mild, or probable depression bands for quick interpretation. Visual feedback appears instantly as a colour-coded gauge, helping you understand your result at a glance.

Use this self-assessment to reflect on how you have felt during the past seven days and share the outcome with a supportive person if needed. Do not rely on the result as a substitute for professional evaluation; seek help if any answer worries you. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Technical Details:

The EPDS quantifies mood by assigning numeric weights to ten Likert-style responses and summing the values. Two positively framed items are reverse-scored so that higher totals uniformly represent greater depressive severity.

Reverse scoring prevents artificially low totals when a parent reports positive feelings. Each severity band aligns with published clinical thresholds, enabling comparison with professional screening outcomes while avoiding diagnostic claims.

  • Response scale: 0 (best) to 3 (worst)
  • Reverse items: questions 1 and 2
  • Total range: 0 – 30
  • Interpretation bands: ≤9, 10-12, ≥13
  • Severity colours follow traffic-light logic
Score RangeSeverity Band
0 – 9Minimal / No Depression
10 – 12Mild Depression
13 – 30Probable Depression

All calculations run locally in your browser via a lightweight reactive engine and a client-side charting layer; no answers leave your device.

Calculations & Scoring:

This section demonstrates how the tool derives your score and interpretation.

Composite score formula and sample substitution.

r1=1 , r2=2
3−1=2 , 3−2=1

Replace responses to questions 1 and 2 so higher numbers always reflect greater severity.

S=2+1+1+0+0+1+2+1+1+0
S=9

Sum the ten adjusted responses to produce the EPDS total score.

S=9
S<10

A score below 10 falls within the “Minimal / No Depression” range.

For the example responses the EPDS total is 9, indicating Minimal / No Depression.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Follow these steps to complete the assessment and review your result.

  1. Press the Start Assessment button.
  2. Read each question carefully and select one radio option (0 – 3).
  3. Watch the green progress bar update as you answer every item.
  4. After the last response, view Your EPDS Result and coloured gauge.
  5. Copy or bookmark the automatically generated URL to revisit your answers.
  6. Open Your Answers table and print a copy for discussion if desired.

FAQ:

Common questions about scoring, privacy, and interpretation.

What does my score mean?

The total indicates how closely your recent feelings match recognised depressive symptoms. Refer to the score bands table for context and seek professional advice if unsure.

Is my data stored?

No. Responses remain inside your browser. When you copy or share the result URL, answers are encoded in the link itself and never transmitted to a server.

Can I change an answer?

Yes. Select any question in the list, choose a different option, and the total recalculates instantly.

Does this diagnose depression?

No. The EPDS is a screening instrument. Only a qualified clinician can provide a formal diagnosis or treatment plan.

Why are some items reverse-scored?

Positive items are inverted so that stronger agreement lowers the chance of a high overall score, maintaining consistent direction across all questions.

Troubleshooting:

Resolve common issues that may prevent completion.

  • Gauge not visible – ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser.
  • No progress update – reload the page and start again.
  • URL looks wrong – clear the address bar and retake the test.
  • Print layout misaligned – switch to landscape orientation before printing.
  • Screen reader skips questions – activate virtual cursor mode and navigate normally.

Advanced Tips:

Maximise the usefulness of your results.

  • Retake weekly to observe mood trends over time.
  • Add journal notes when bookmarking the result URL.
  • Discuss changes with a trusted partner for added perspective.
  • Compare scores with peer-reviewed EPDS research to contextualise shifts.
  • Use dark-mode in low-light environments to reduce eye strain.

Glossary:

Key terms used throughout this tool.

EPDS
Ten-item screening scale for postnatal depression.
Reverse Scoring
Technique that inverts positive responses to maintain directional consistency.
Likert Scale
Rating format where respondents choose predefined agreement levels.
Severity Band
Category describing the clinical significance of a score range.
Composite Score
Total of all item values after adjustment.

No data is transmitted or stored server-side; all processing occurs in your browser.

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