Postpartum Depression Test: Get Your EPDS Score for Symptoms After Pregnancy or Birth
This postpartum depression test screens for emotional symptoms during pregnancy and after birth using an adapted EPDS. Get an instant score, a symptom breakdown, and an optional report to discuss with your doctor.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Postpartum Depression Test is a free, confidential 10-question self-assessment, uses the validated EPDS. It takes about 10 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
What the EPDS actually captures
The EPDS screens for emotional symptoms of depression during pregnancy and after birth, including loss of enjoyment, self-blame, sadness, and anxiety. It avoids many physical symptoms that overlap with early parenthood, while still asking about difficulty sleeping because of unhappiness.
Ten emotional signs
Ten items cover the feelings that matter most after birth: enjoyment, hope, self-blame, worry, panic, feeling overwhelmed, sadness, tearfulness, and any thoughts of self-harm.
A validated score
Your answers sum to a single 0 to 30 score. A score of 10 or above suggests possible depression worth a closer look, and 13 or above suggests it is more likely, using the standard EPDS thresholds. These thresholds come from research on the original EPDS. Their accuracy has not been established for the changed wording and shared response options used here.
The past week
The EPDS asks how you have felt over the past seven days, so your result reflects how you have been recently, not one hard day or your whole pregnancy.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated EPDS questions | Sometimes | Yes, all 10, faithful wording |
| Built for new and expecting parents | No, generic | Yes, perinatal-specific |
| Standard EPDS cutoffs | Vague labels | Real thresholds (10 and 13) |
| Self-harm item handled with care | Often ignored | Crisis resources surfaced |
| Clinician-reviewed | Rarely | Yes, reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–30 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–9 | Low likelihood of depression | Your answers place you in the lower range on the EPDS. That is a reassuring result on this screening. |
| 10–12 | Possible depression | Your answers suggest possible depression. This is a common result, and it is worth a gentle conversation with someone who can help. |
| 13–30 | Probable depression | Your answers suggest probable depression. Please be gentle with yourself, and reach out for support soon. You deserve care. |
How common is this?
A postpartum depression test can help identify emotional symptoms that deserve a clinical conversation during pregnancy or after birth. Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our postpartum depression statistics page collects the current numbers on postpartum depression in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory. If you are unsure whether what you are feeling fits postpartum depression or something else, the Mental Health Assessment is a broader starting point that covers mood, anxiety, and stress together.
Postpartum depression vs. the baby blues
The baby blues touch most new parents in the days after birth and fade on their own within a couple of weeks. Postpartum depression lasts longer, feels heavier, and gets in the way of daily life and bonding, so it calls for outside support rather than time alone. If low mood, anxiety, or exhaustion has continued past that early window, that pattern by itself is worth mentioning to your doctor or midwife.
This test does not replace that conversation, but it does put the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale into your own words, which some parents find easier to sit with than describing feelings out loud in a waiting room. If racing thoughts or worry stand out more than sadness, the Anxiety Test can round out the picture.
You do not need to wait for symptoms to last beyond the baby blues period before asking for help. Severity and safety matter as well as duration. If you are pregnant, the word postpartum in the page title should not put you off discussing symptoms: depression can also occur before birth, and your prenatal care team can arrange an assessment.
Signs it may be time to talk to a professional
Consider reaching out sooner rather than later if sadness, anxiety, or numbness lasts most of the day for more than two weeks, if you are struggling to eat, sleep even when the baby sleeps, or care for yourself, if bonding with your baby feels distant or forced, or if intrusive thoughts about harm are frightening rather than fleeting. None of these mean you are a bad parent. They mean your nervous system is asking for backup.
A therapist, midwife, or doctor can sort out how much of what you are feeling is the ordinary weight of early parenthood and how much calls for treatment. The Psychology.com therapist directory lists clinicians who work with perinatal mood and anxiety concerns specifically, and a Self-Care Plan can help with the smaller daily pieces of coping while you wait for an appointment. The Caregiver Burnout Test is worth a look too, since exhaustion and depression often overlap in the first months.
Seek emergency medical care for hallucinations, fixed beliefs that others do not share, marked confusion, or unusually elevated mood with behavior that seems disconnected from reality after childbirth. NIMH identifies these as possible signs of postpartum psychosis, a psychiatric emergency. Ask a trusted adult to stay with you and help keep the baby safe while arranging care. A low depression screening score does not rule out this emergency.
How should I use my EPDS score at an appointment?
Bring the result and describe which symptoms interfere with eating, rest, relationships, or caring for yourself. Explain when they began, whether they occur even when practical help is available, and any previous mood episodes. Tell the clinician about medications and supplements, and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. These details help place the screening score in context.
You can ask what further assessment is needed, what support is available, and who to contact if symptoms worsen before follow-up. A score below the screening threshold should not keep you from asking for care. The EPDS describes recent experiences, so a difficult earlier period or a rapid change after completing it still matters.
Tell the clinician that this is an adapted online questionnaire, with changed prompts and shared answer choices. They may ask you to complete the original EPDS or another assessment. If the new score differs, discuss the answers and your circumstances rather than assuming that either number alone settles whether you need support. The mental health tests hub offers related screens, but further self-testing is not required before seeking care.
How can a partner help after a postpartum depression screening?
Ask the parent what feels hardest and listen without trying to explain the feelings away. Offer concrete help with arranging an appointment, transportation, meals, household tasks, or baby care. Ask which tasks they want you to take on rather than requiring them to organize all the support. NIMH identifies emotional support and help with appointments and daily responsibilities as useful roles for family and friends.
With the parent's agreement, help them write down concerns or accompany them to an appointment. Practical help can make care easier to access, while assessment and treatment decisions belong with the parent and their health care team. If the parent seems confused, disconnected from reality, or unsafe, follow the emergency guidance above rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Methodology & sources
This test is adapted from the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), developed and validated by Cox, Holden, and Sagovsky (1987). It is the most widely used screening for depression during pregnancy and after birth, recommended by clinicians and health systems worldwide. The EPDS has 10 items, each rated 0 to 3, for a total from 0 to 30. The original uses item-specific response options, with scoring direction varying across items. This page rephrases some prompts and uses shared response options so that more difficulty scores higher. These changes mean the online questionnaire is an adaptation, and the original validation does not establish its accuracy. A score of 10 to 12 suggests possible depression and a score of 13 or higher suggests probable depression; many clinicians use a threshold of 10 or higher to prompt a fuller conversation. The tenth item, which asks about thoughts of self-harm, matters regardless of the total score, so this test surfaces crisis resources prominently whenever it is endorsed.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. The EPDS is a screening tool, and a higher score does not by itself confirm postpartum or perinatal depression. Only a licensed clinician can make that assessment, ideally by talking with you about your history and context. Perinatal depression and anxiety are common, treatable, and not your fault. If your result concerns you, please treat it as a reason to reach out to your doctor, midwife, or a therapist.
The EPDS accuracy review by Levis and colleagues found that the choice of screening threshold changes the balance between identifying depression and flagging people who do not meet diagnostic criteria. Published accuracy estimates apply to the studied EPDS versions and settings. They should not be presented as measured performance for this adapted online questionnaire. The symptom categories shown here organize responses for discussion; they do not establish separate diagnoses.
References
- Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry. 1987;150(6):782-786.
- Levis B, Negeri Z, Sun Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Accuracy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening to detect major depression among pregnant and postpartum women: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;371:m4022.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum. ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline. 2023.
- Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Original EPDS development study, PubMed record. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3651732/
- Levis B, et al. Full text of the EPDS accuracy systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7656313/
- National Institute of Mental Health. Perinatal Depression. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/perinatal-depression
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). Postpartum Depression Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/postpartum-depression
Postpartum Depression Test FAQ
What is the EPDS postpartum depression test?
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a short, validated questionnaire that screens for depression during pregnancy and after birth. It asks about how you have felt over the past week, focusing on emotional signs while limiting overlap with physical changes that come with a new baby. It produces a screening score, not a diagnosis. This page adapts the original wording and response options, so its result should be discussed with a clinician rather than treated as equivalent to a professionally administered EPDS.
What score suggests postpartum depression?
On the EPDS, a total of 0 to 9 is in the low range, 10 to 12 suggests possible depression worth following up, and 13 or higher suggests probable depression. Many clinicians use a score of 10 or more as the point to start a fuller conversation. Any score with thoughts of self-harm should be acted on right away, whatever the total. These published thresholds have not been validated for this adapted online version.
Is feeling down after birth normal?
Many new parents experience baby blues, with brief tearfulness, worry, or mood changes after birth. NIMH describes these as usually occurring in the first two weeks. Symptoms that are severe, persist, or interfere with caring for yourself deserve a clinical conversation. You can ask for help before that period ends, especially if you feel unsafe or unable to cope. Treatment options exist, and a clinician can help identify what support fits your needs.
What if I have thoughts of harming myself?
Please take thoughts of harming yourself seriously and seek help now, regardless of your score. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you may act on these thoughts, cannot keep yourself or your baby safe, or face immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to an emergency department. Ask a trusted adult to stay with you and help care for your baby while you get support.
Can postpartum depression get better?
Yes. Treatment for postpartum and perinatal depression can include psychotherapy, practical support, and medication. A clinician can discuss options with you, including the benefits and risks during breastfeeding. Recovery varies, and follow-up helps the care team adjust support to your needs. Asking for help is an appropriate step when symptoms affect your well-being or daily life.
How many questions does the postpartum depression test have?
This test is adapted from the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, each answered on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. Take the time you need to choose the response that best describes your experience. The questions focus on feelings from the past seven days, like enjoyment, worry, and sadness, rather than on physical symptoms like fatigue, which are common with a new baby regardless of mood.
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