Which screening tool is commonly used to identify postpartum depression?

• A. Beck Depression Inventory
• B. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
• C. GAD-7
• D. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Answer: (D)

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is designed specifically to screen for mood disturbances in the postpartum period. It’s a brief self‑administered questionnaire with 10 items that ask about how the mother has felt over the past week, focusing on mood, anxiety, and related symptoms. The total score helps identify those who may be experiencing postpartum depression and need further assessment, though it is not a diagnostic tool by itself. Its postpartum focus, ease of use in busy clinical settings, and strong validation in new mothers make it the most appropriate screening choice for this context.

General depression scales like the Beck Depression Inventory are broader and not tailored to the postpartum experience, while the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is clinician-administered and longer, making it less practical for routine screening. The GAD-7 screens for generalized anxiety rather than postpartum depression, so it doesn’t target the mood disturbances most relevant to new mothers.