The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression
Rating Scale
(Stuart A. Montgomery and Marie Åsberg, 1979)
Purpose
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is used by clinicians to assess the severity of depression among patients in whom a diagnosis of depressive illness has been made. It is designed to be sensitive to change resulting from treatment (1; 2).
Conceptual Basis
Psychiatric rating scales are commonly used to evaluate drug treatment effects. Although most are able to distinguish between active drugs and placebos, Montgomery and Åsberg noted that few have been able to differentiate between variousb active drugs. Standard rating scales such as the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) do not seem sensitive enough to detect these differences (3). The major goal in developing the MADRS was to provide an instrument sensitive to minor changes that was also practicalto apply in a clinical setting.