10.55. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)

Warning

(¶+) Reproduction of this task/scale is not permitted (or such permission is not clear). This CamCOPS task is a data collection tool only, with no scale text (unless configured locally to use externally provided text that the hosting institution is legally permitted to use). Use it only in conjunction with a licensed copy of the original task. If your institution is entitled to use the task, you may install an add-on XML file on your server containing the required strings, to make the task fully functional, but you must provide this XML file and its contents yourself (it is outside the scope of CamCOPS).

10.55.1. History and guide

Original article:

  • Cox JL, Holden JM, and Sagovsky R (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry 150:782–786, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3651732.

10.55.2. Source

10.55.3. Intellectual property rights

Copyright Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Ignore this (say the RCPsych in 2013): “Users may reproduce the scale without further permission providing they respect copyright by quoting the names of the authors, the title and the source of the paper in all reproduced copies.” (Cox et al. 1987.)

Instead, use this (say the RCPsych in 2013): “© 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale may be photocopied by individual researchers or clinicians for their own use without seeking permission from the publishers. The scale must be copied in full and all copies must acknowledge the following source: Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression. Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 782-786. Written permission must be obtained from the Royal College of Psychiatrists for copying and distribution to others or for republication (in print, online or by any other medium).”

Permission refused for full embedding in CamCOPS (personal communication, RCPsych to Rudolf Cardinal, 2013-08-06).

In CamCOPS, this task is therefore not implemented in full; it is a skeleton data collection task that may be upgraded if the local institution has appropriate permissions from the RCPsych.