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Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

What is MADRS

The 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) measures severity of depression in individuals 18 years and older. Each item is rated on a 7-point scale. The scale is an adaptation of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and has a greater sensitivity to change over time. The scale can be completed in 20 to 30 minutes.

MADRS Printable PDF

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MADRS Scoring and Interpretation

PsyPack can automatically score the MADRS assessment and prepare corresponding tables and graphs.

Further, PsyPack automatically plots a graph to help you easily track progress over time.

Domain

Depression

What does MADRS measure

The purpose of the evaluation is to:

  • measure severity of depression, and
  • measure change in severity of depressive illness.

Administration

Clinician-administered

Type of outcome tool

Clinical

Assessment modes

Questionnaire

Age and eligibility

18 years and above

Estimated time

20 to 30 minutes

Notes

Clinician's administration may influence the subject by how they explain the question. Interpretation of the subjects response may also be hindered by the clinician even when methods are present to prevent interviewer biases.

The scale can be used by trained nurses and psychologists as well as by psychiatrists.

The 10 items included in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are all core symptoms of depressive illness. A few characteristic symptoms are, however, not included. Motor retardation is perhaps the most conspicuous omission. It was excluded from the primary selection, since it occurred in relatively few patients.

The MADRS is particularly sensitive to treatment effects.

The inter-rater reliability of the new depression scale was high. Scores on the scale correlated significantly with scores on a standard rating scale for depression, the Hamilton Rating Scale (HRS), indicating its validity as a general severity estimate. Its capacity to differentiate between responders and non-responders to anti-depressant treatment was better than the HRS, indicating greater sensitivity to change.

Attribution and References

Montgomery, S.A., & Åsberg, M. (1979). A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 134, 382-389.