Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMD)
Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMD) can impact:
- 1 in 5 mothers
- 1 in 10 fathers
- 1 of 2 teen parents
- 1 in 4 adoptive parents
Symptoms of PMD
- Anger, irritability, frustration
- Tearfulness or low mood
- Excessive worry, anxiety, panic attacks
- Sleep troubles - too little, too much
- Appetite changes
- Withdrawal from family, friends, enjoyable activities.
- Need to not be alone or excessively busy
- Repeated behaviors
- Scary or repetitive thoughts
- Thoughts of harming self or baby*
- Not able to bond with baby
- Not wanting to care for baby
- A loss of touch with reality*
- Staying away from home (Dads)
*Symptoms noted with * are considered an emergency - please contact Crisis Intervention 1-800-721-0077 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you think that you or a loved one is experiencing PMD - seek help. Timely treatment is proven to work.
Local Services and Supports
Central Access and Information Service 705-759-5989 or in the District 1-855-366-1466.
The "You Are Not Alone" project for Postpartum Anxiety and Mood Disorder Wellness and Awareness is a group of local moms with lived experience, and community workers who are bringing a message of hope and wellness to the community of Algoma. Find us on Facebook.
Online Support
Chat with an Expert
Online Peer Support "Smart Patient Forum"
Self-Help
You can use this screening tool to help you determine your next steps.
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Life with a new baby is not always what you expect.
You can complete this questionnaire to explore how you have been feeling during your pregnancy, or after the baby. Underline the answer that comes closest to how you have felt IN THE PAST 7 DAYS, not just how you feel today. Your score will help you determine the next steps. Algoma Public Health's trained family health staff can support you with the next steps.
- 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
- I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
- As much as I ever did
- Rather less than I used to
- Definitely less that I used to
- Hardly at all
- I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.*
- Yes, most of the time
- Yes, some of the time
- Not very often
- No, Never
- I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
- No, not at all
- Hardly ever
- Yes, sometimes
- Yes, very often
- I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.*
- Yes, quite a lot
- Yes, sometimes
- No, not much
- No, not at all
- 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 have coped quite well
- No, I have been coping as well as ever
- I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.*
- Yes, most of the time
- Yes, sometimes
- Not very often
- No, not at all
- I have felt sad or miserable*
- Yes, most of the time
- Yes, quite often
- Not very often
- No, not at all
- I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.*
- Yes, most of the time
- Yes, quite often
- Only occasionally
- No, never
- The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.*
- Yes, quite often
- Sometimes
- Hardly ever
- Never
Response categories are scored 0, 1, 2, and 3 according to increased severity of the symptoms. Items marked with an asterisk are reverse scored (i.e. 3, 2, 1, and 0). The total score is calculated by adding together the scores for each of the ten items. A woman scoring 10 or higher should be referred to a physician or mental health specialist for further assessment. A score of 13 or higher could indicate major depression. Any positive score on item 10 warrants further clinical assessment, some women scoring below the cut-off scores may also have PPMD and/or will benefit from support services. These scores may not be applicable to all populations.
Instructions for users:
- The mother is asked to underline the response which comes closest to how she has been feeling in the previous 7 days.
- All ten items must be completed.
- Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the mother discussing her answers with others,
- The mother should complete the scale herself, unless she has limited English or has difficulty with reading.
Sources:
Cox, J.L., Holden, J.M., and Sagovsky, R. 1987. Detection of postnatal depression: Development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
K.L. Wisner, B.L. Parry, C.M. Piontek, Postpartum Depression
Date of Creation: June 1, 2015
Last Modified: January 25, 2018
