A prevalence of the maternal depression at the first month after delivery was detected and some psychometric characteristics of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were analysed (internal consistency, factor analysis and concurrent validity) using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A sample of mothers (from Malaga, Spain) were selected at the first month after delivery. Two factors explain the highest variability (sadness and anxiety). The items of the EPDS show a good discrimination, high internal consistency (0,83) and converge with the BDI, except in two items