Am I suffering with postnatal depression?

Health visitors and healthcare professionals commonly use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression score as a screening method to determine depression in women after giving birth (the postnatal period). The test has also proved beneficial for screening depression before giving birth (the antenatal period).

The test below has been proved to be a reliable and sensitive method in detecting depression in mothers.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score test is easy to complete. Just click on the answer that best applies to your situation.

1: I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
As much as I always could
Not quite so much now
Definitely not so much now
Not at all

2: I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
As much as I ever did
Rather less than I used to
Definitely less than I used to
Hardly at all

3: I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, some of the time
Not very often
No, never

4: I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
No, not at all
Hardly ever
Yes, sometimes
Yes, very often

5: I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
Yes, quite a lot
Yes, sometimes
No, not much
No, not at all

6: Things have been getting on top of me.
Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
No, most of the time I've coped quite well
No, I've been coping as well as ever

7: I have been so unhappy, I have had difficulty sleeping
Yes, most of the time
Yes, sometimes
Not very often
No, not at all

8: I have felt sad and miserable.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, sometimes
Not very often
No, not at all

9: I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
Yes, most of the time
Yes, quite often
Only ocassionally
No, never

10: The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
Yes, quite often
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Never