The scale will not detect mothers with anxiety, phobias or personality disorders. In doubtful cases it may be useful to repeat the tool after 2 weeks. The scale asks how the mother has felt during the previous week. Postpartum depression is the most common complication of childbearing and rates of help-seeking for postnatal depression are generally low, making screening important. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a short 10-item self report questionnaire designed to identify mothers at risk for prenatal and and postnatal depression.
