New directions for the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: towards an EPDS-R (revised)

Abstract

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been translated into over 60 languages, and for 40 years this 10-item EPDS has remained unchanged. Meanwhile many societies during these decades have undergone cultural changes, including the use of language, the development of more diverse family structures and increased access to social media and now artificial intelligence. Perhaps an EPDS-R (revised) is now needed, and now is the time for action? The challenges that must be overcome to create a revised EPDS are the subject of this Guest Editorial, which also describes its origins in Edinburgh almost 50 years ago.