EPDS scoring: what your 0–30 score means

CareOps editorial team · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Mental wellness information and service guidance published by CareOps.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, or EPDS, is a ten-question check of mood around pregnancy and after birth. It takes a few minutes, but the scoring has a twist: the answers are not always listed in the same order. This guide explains how it adds up, what each range means, and what to do next.

What is the EPDS? #

The EPDS was developed in 1987 at the University of Keele as a short self-report screen for depression after birth. In the original validation study with 84 mothers, it showed satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, picked up changes in mood over time, and could be completed in about five minutes. It is now widely used during pregnancy as well as after birth, and it has also been studied in new fathers.

The ten questions cover laughing and enjoying things, looking forward to things, blaming yourself, worry and fear without a clear reason, feeling that things are piling up, sleep trouble from unhappiness, sadness, crying, and thoughts of harming yourself. Every question asks about the past seven days, not just today.

How is the EPDS scored? #

Each question has four answers worth 0, 1, 2 or 3 points. The catch is the order. In the first two questions and the fourth, the answers run from the calmest (0) to the most troubled (3). In questions 3 and 5 through 10, the order is flipped, so the first answer listed is worth 3. This keeps people from ticking the top answer on autopilot.

1. Score each question 0 to 3, where 3 is always the answer that describes the most difficulty.
2. Watch the reversed questions. For questions 3 and 5–10, the first answer on the form is the 3-point one.
3. Add all ten scores. The total is your EPDS score, from 0 to 30.
4. Look at question 10 separately, whatever the total is.

EPDS score interpretation #

Different studies and services use different cut points, and the right one can depend on the setting and on who is filling it in. A study of Italian fathers, for example, found 12/13 worked best in that group. That is why the ranges above are a guide rather than a line: a total of 10 or more is a sensible point to ask for a proper conversation about how you are doing.

A low score does not mean you have to be fine. The weeks around a birth bring lack of sleep, big changes and a lot to carry, and it is worth talking about how you feel at any score.

Why question 10 is read on its own #

Question 10 asks how often the thought of harming yourself has come up. Because it is about safety, it is not left inside the total: any answer other than “never” is worth acting on, even if the overall score is low.

If you are thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away (in the US, call or text 988).

Take the EPDS now #

You can take the EPDS here for free, without signing up. Your score appears right away, along with what the range means.

What to do with a high score #

A high score is information, not a verdict. It can help to bring the number and the questions that scored highest to a check-up, so the conversation starts from something concrete. For a wider look at how low mood shows up, see early signs of depression, and the PHQ-4 is a quick way to check anxiety and mood together.

CareOps Maeumi is an AI counseling app that starts with short self-checks like this one and remembers earlier sessions, so each conversation builds on the last. You can talk by voice or text. Sign-up and initial self-checks are free; check your account’s session offer and pricing before payment. You can use it alongside care from a licensed professional.

This guide shares mental wellness information. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services where you are. Support and contact information.