Mums to be

The Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS)

Over the past month, how often have you experienced the following?

Please tick the response that most closely describes your experience for every question.

1. I have felt unable to juggle motherhood with my other responsibilities.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

2. I have worried more about my relationship with my family than before my baby was born.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all Not applicable

3. I have worried about accidentally harming my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

4. I have worried about how I will cope with my baby when others are not around to support me.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

5. I have felt that I do not get enough support.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

6. I have been less able to concentrate on simple tasks than before my baby was born.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

7. I have felt that I should not need help to look after my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

8. I have felt frightened when my baby is not with me.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

9. I have worried I will not know what to do when my baby cries.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

10. I have worried more about my relationship with my partner than before my baby was born.

Not applicable Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

11. I have worried that my baby feels more content in someone else's care.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

12. I have felt isolated from my family and friends.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all Not applicable

13. I have worried about my baby's weight.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

14. I have worried about getting my baby into a routine.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

15. I have worried that I will become too ill to care for my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

16. I have worried about my baby being accidentally harmed by someone or something.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

17. I have felt unconfident or incapable of meeting my baby's basic care needs.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

18. I have worried about being unable to settle my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

19. I have felt a greater need to do things in a certain way or order than before my baby was born.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

20. I have had negative thoughts about my relationship with my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

21. I have worried more about my relationship with my friends than before my baby was born.

Not applicable Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

22. I have thought of ways to avoid exposing my baby to germs.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

23. I have worried that my baby is less content than other babies.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

24. I have felt that other mothers are coping with their babies better than me.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

25. I have felt that I am not the parent I want to be.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

26. I have worried more about completing household chores than before my baby was born.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

27. I have not taken part in an everyday activity with my baby because I fear they may come to harm.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

28. I have worried about my baby's milk intake.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

29. I have felt that I have had less control over my day than before my baby was born.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

30. I have worried more about my finances than before my baby was born.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

31. I have worried about my baby's health even after reassurance from others.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

32. I have felt that when I do get help it is not beneficial.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

33. I have worried that my baby will stop breathing while sleeping.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

34. I have used the internet for reassurance about my baby's health.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

35. I have worried about leaving my baby in a childcare setting.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

36. I have felt that my baby would be better cared for by someone else.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

37. I have worried that I am not going to get enough sleep.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

38. I have felt that motherhood is much harder than I expected.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

39. I have worried that my baby is picking up on my anxieties.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

40. I have worried about the bond that I have with my baby.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

41. I have worried about the length of time that my baby sleeps.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

42. I have worried about returning to work.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all Not applicable

43. I have worried more about my appearance than before my baby was born.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

44. I have had difficulty sleeping even when I have had the chance to.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

45. I have worried that other people think that my parenting skills are inadequate.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

46. I have worried that my partner finds me less attractive than before my baby was born.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all Not applicable

47. I have worried that my baby is not developing as quickly as other babies.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

48. I have felt resentment towards my partner.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all Not applicable

49. I have worried about the way that I feed my baby.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

50. I have repeatedly checked on my sleeping baby.

Not at all Not very often Often Almost always

51. I have felt tired even after a good amount of rest.

Almost always Often Not very often Not at all

Fallon, V. et al. (2016) ‘The Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale: development and preliminary validation’. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 19(6), 1079–1090

We have obtained permission from the PSAS authors to make this scale available for women experiencing symptoms. If you would like to use this scale for research/clinical purposes, please contact the PSAS working group directly at [email protected]. The scale is available under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence which means that it can’t be used, modified, or commercialised without explicit permission.