Do I have postpartum depression? This screening quiz can help you find out, mama

Up to 20% of women experience postpartum depression. Yet, despite its prevalence, it can be really hard to know whether or not you are going through it.

The Edinburgh Scale is often used by providers to assess whether a woman might have postpartum depression. While efforts are underway to get more women assessed sooner, we wanted to share this with you, in case you might be concerned about your mental being.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. This is meant as a guide. You do not have to diagnose yourself. If you have any concerns, it is really important to meet with a health care provider or therapist.

2. There are other mental health concerns that can happen during pregnancy and the postpartum period including:

• Prenatal depression
• Baby blues
• Prenatal and postpartum anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Postpartum psychosis

Your provider can help you figure out what your symptoms mean for you.

3. If at any time you feel like you want to hurt yourself of the baby, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room right away.

The Edinburgh Scale

Find a few quiet moments, and consider the following questions (it might be easiest to print this out if you can so you can record your answers). Think about how you have felt in the past seven days (not just how you feel today).

In the past seven days:

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things:

• As much as I always could (0)
• Not quite so much now (1)
• Definitely not so much now (2)
• Not at all (3)

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things:

• As much as I ever did (0)
• Rather less than I used to (1)
• Definitely less than I used to (2)
• Hardly at all (3)

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong:

• Yes, most of the time (3)
• Yes, some of the time (2)
• Not very often (1)
• No, never (0)

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason:

• No, not at all (0)
• Hardly ever (1)
• Yes, sometimes (2)
• Yes, very often (3)

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason:

• Yes, quite a lot (3)
• Yes, sometimes (2)
• No, not much (1)
• No, not at all (0)

6. Things have been getting to me:

• Yes, most of the time I haven’ been able to cope at all (3)
• Yes, sometimes I haven’t been coping as well (2)
• No, most of the time I have coped quite well (1)
• No, I have been coping as well as ever (0)

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping:

• Yes, most of the time (3)
• Yes, sometimes (2)
• Not very often (1)
• No, not at all (0)

8. I have felt sad or miserable:

• Yes, most of the time (3)
• Yes, quite often (2)
• Not very often (1)
• No, not at all (0)

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying:

• Yes, most of the time (3)
• Yes, quite often (2)
• Only occasionally (1)
• No, never (0)

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me*:

• Yes, quite often (3)
• Sometimes (2)
• Hardly ever (1)
• No, not at all (0)

*If you ever consider harming yourself or the baby, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room right away.

Now add up the numbers next to your answer for each question.

A score of 12 or higher means that postpartum depression is likely, and you should seek medical attention.

The Edinburgh Scale originally appeared at the following source: 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.

You might also like:

• Finally: Pediatricians urged to screen new moms for perinatal depression
• True life: I had postpartum depression and didn’t realize it
• To the mama battling postpartum depression: You are stronger than you realize