{{ progressPercent }}%
  • {{ q.id }}. {{ q.text }}
{{ resultText.title }}
{{ resultText.badgePrefix }} {{ totalScore }} – {{ severityName }}

{{ resultText.answersHeading }}
# {{ resultText.questionCol }} {{ resultText.answerCol }}
{{ a.id }} {{ a.text }} {{ a.answer }}
Tags: Psychology , Psychometrics
Export to PDF Fullscreen
:

Postnatal depression symptoms are described by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, a short questionnaire that reflects mood and coping in the last week. Scores help you judge whether watchful waiting is reasonable and when a conversation with a care provider may be helpful.

You read each statement and select the option that best fits your recent experience, then a single total is calculated. The result is grouped into clear bands so you can see whether symptoms are minimal, mild, or likely significant.

You also receive simple subscores for enjoyment, anxiety, low mood, and coping with highlight notes that point to the items that pull the result. A brief summary suggests next steps you might consider.

Use honest answers from the last 7 days and complete the set in one sitting for the fairest picture. Screening is not a diagnosis and professional help should be sought if you are worried. If thoughts of harming yourself are present, seek urgent support.

This tool provides informational estimates and does not substitute professional advice.

Technical Details:

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) observes self‑reported symptoms over the previous seven days. Ten items are answered on a four‑point scale (integers 0–3) to reflect frequency and impact. Two positively worded items use reverse scoring so that higher totals indicate more symptoms.

The primary quantity is a total score on a 0–30 scale obtained by summing item scores after any reverse coding. Results are interpreted in three bands defined in the app: Minimal / No Depression, Mild Depression, and Probable Depression. Moving into a higher band suggests more concern and a lower threshold for clinical review.

Subscores summarize related features: anhedonia (2 items), anxiety (3 items), low mood (3 items), and coping (1 item). The final item about self‑harm is included in the total but reported separately in summaries for safety emphasis and is excluded from “top driver” rankings.

Ri1 = 3−Si1 Ri2 = 3−Si2 Ri{3…10} = Si{3…10} T = ∑i=110 Ri
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
Si Raw response for item i integer 0–3 Input
Ri Recoded score (reverse for items 1–2) integer 0–3 Derived
T Total score integer 0–30 Derived
Ahed Anhedonia subscore (items 1–2) integer 0–6 Derived
Anx Anxiety subscore (items 3–5) integer 0–9 Derived
Lmood Low‑mood subscore (items 7–9) integer 0–9 Derived
C Coping score (item 6) integer 0–3 Derived
H Self‑harm item (item 10, raw) integer 0–3 Input
Worked example. Suppose responses are: S₁=2, S₂=1, S₃=2, S₄=1, S₅=2, S₆=1, S₇=2, S₈=1, S₉=0, S₁₀=1. Then R₁=1 and R₂=2; all others equal Sᵢ. The total is:
T=1+2+2+1+2+1+2+1+0+1=13
A score of 13 falls in the Probable Depression band; the self‑harm item is non‑zero and will be called out in the summary.
Threshold band Lower bound Upper bound Interpretation Action cue
Minimal / No Depression 0 9 Low likelihood of depression Maintain supports and monitor
Mild Depression 10 12 Some symptoms present Share concerns and re‑check soon
Probable Depression 13 30 Signs of significant depression Discuss with a health‑care professional

For subscale grading, each subscore is mapped to none, mild, moderate, or severe using proportional cut‑points: ≤25%, ≤50%, ≤75%, or above. These labels summarize relative elevation and do not replace clinical judgment.

Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error text
Per‑item response integer 0 3 step 1 —
Responses array length integer 10 10 fixed —
Share code (r URL param) string 10 10 regex ^[0-3\-]{10}$ —
Input Accepted families Output Encoding/Precision Rounding
Ten multiple‑choice selections radio buttons (0–3) Total, band, subscores, highlights integers; share code r with digits 0–3 and “‑” for missing not applicable

Units, precision, and rounding. All quantities are integers; no fractional arithmetic is used; decimal separators are not applicable; no rounding occurs.

Networking and storage behavior. Processing and scoring occur entirely in the browser; responses are serialized to a compact URL parameter so a session can be bookmarked or shared. No data are sent to a server. A charting script may be loaded from a content delivery network as specified by the site configuration.

Diagnostics and determinism. Identical inputs produce identical totals and bands; if the share code r is valid, the questionnaire restores to the same state.

Security considerations. Avoid pasting the share URL in public places if it contains sensitive responses. Do not store or transmit results where privacy cannot be protected. The app inserts only its own generated HTML into summaries.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Self‑report instruments can be influenced by recall and context.
  • Results reflect the past seven days and may change quickly.
  • Band labels summarize risk and are not a diagnosis.
  • Subscale labels are proportional to each subscore’s maximum.
  • Top‑driver listings exclude the self‑harm item by design.
  • Sharing via URL exposes encoded selections to recipients.
  • Color cues are supplemental; text labels convey the meaning.
  • Heads‑up Export features are available only after all items are answered.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Invalid share code (r) length or characters prevents restoration.
  • Partially completed responses yield no final score or exports.
  • Reverse scoring mistakes when copied manually change totals.
  • Browser extensions that block clipboard APIs can stop CSV copy.
  • Chart rendering may fail on very old browsers without modern canvas support.
  • Zoomed pages can hide the active question in the list until scrolled.
  • Dark‑mode contrast differences may reduce perceived color intensity.
  • Stale cached assets can delay visual updates after site changes.
  • Manually editing the URL while answering can desynchronize state.
  • Sharing the URL before finishing may omit some selections.

Privacy & compliance. No data are transmitted or stored server‑side. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

How‑to Guide:

Complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to obtain a total score with subscores and a clear banded interpretation.

  1. Read each statement covering the last seven days.
  2. Select the option that best fits your experience 0–3.
  3. Proceed until all ten items show as answered.
  4. Review the total, band, subscores, and highlights.
  5. Optionally copy or download your answers for your records.

Example. If most answers indicate “sometimes,” expect a mid‑range score; if many indicate “most of the time,” totals will be higher.

Use the outcome to decide whether to monitor, to share with someone you trust, or to seek professional input.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

Scoring runs in the browser and selections are never uploaded. A compact code in the page URL can restore or share your responses.

Privacy note: share links only with people you trust.
How accurate is the score?

It reflects your own answers and uses fixed thresholds encoded in the app. It is a screening result, not a diagnosis, and should be read with context.

What units or formats are used?

All values are integers. The total ranges from 0 to 30. The share code uses ten characters made of digits 0–3 and dashes for missing answers.

Can I use it offline?

Yes, once the page is loaded. Scoring does not require a network connection.

Are there costs or accounts?

No account is required and usage is not metered. Keep a local copy of your results if you need a record.

How do I read a score of 12?

A total of 12 is in the Mild Depression band. Share concerns and consider a short follow‑up period before re‑checking.

What does “borderline” mean?

Values near band edges can feel ambiguous. Review subscores and highlights, then re‑screen after a short interval if symptoms persist.

Can I export my answers?

After finishing, you can copy answers as CSV, download a CSV file, or export to a DOCX summary for saving or printing.

Troubleshooting:

  • Progress stuck at 90% — one item may still be unanswered in the list.
  • Gauge not visible — try resizing the window to trigger a redraw.
  • Copy fails — allow clipboard access or use the file download instead.
  • DOCX button disabled — exports unlock only after all items are answered.
  • Share link not restoring — check the ten‑character code in the URL.
  • Colors look muted — enable standard contrast or rely on text labels.

Advanced Tips:

  • Re‑screen after 1–2 weeks to spot trends rather than single‑day swings.
  • Compare subscores to see whether anxiety or low mood is more prominent.
  • Use the share code to keep a private record across devices.
  • Note the “top drivers” list to guide conversation with a supporter or clinician.
  • If results sit near a band edge, focus on how you feel and recent change.
  • Keep measurements comparable by using the same seven‑day window each time.

Glossary:

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
A ten‑item screening questionnaire for postnatal depression symptoms.
Reverse scoring
Recoding so higher numbers indicate more symptoms for positively worded items.
Subscore
A smaller total from a related group of items.
Cut‑score
A threshold that separates interpretation bands.
Anhedonia
Reduced ability to experience enjoyment.
Self‑harm item
Question about thoughts of harming oneself, shown separately for safety.