MADRS: Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale
10-item clinician-administered depression severity scale. Score 0–60 across four bands. Remission criterion ≤10. Primary outcome measure in antidepressant clinical trials. Montgomery & Åsberg (1979).
The MADRS is a 10-item clinician-administered scale measuring depression severity across cognitive, vegetative, and affective symptoms. Scores 0–60. The validated primary outcome measure in antidepressant clinical trials, valued for its sensitivity to change.
What is the MADRS?
The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was developed by Stuart Montgomery and Marie Åsberg in 1979 specifically to detect and measure changes in depression severity during antidepressant treatment. Unlike the HAM-D, which was designed to characterize depression, the MADRS was built to be maximally sensitive to the effects of treatment, making it the preferred outcome measure in most pharmaceutical trials.
The MADRS contains 10 items, each rated on a 7-point scale (0–6), where 0 and 6 are the anchor points and 2, 4 represent intermediate grades. The items assess both observable and subjective aspects of depression, with a deliberate emphasis on psychological symptoms over somatic symptoms – reducing the confounding effects of physical illness that can artificially elevate HAM-D scores.
The MADRS is a clinician-administered scale. It is not designed for self-report and requires a trained assessor. Total scores range from 0 to 60; ≤10 is the widely adopted remission criterion in antidepressant trials. The scale is in the public domain and free for clinical and research use.
MADRS Score Interpreter
Enter a MADRS total score (0–60) to see the corresponding severity band and clinical meaning.
Clinician-rated scale. Requires trained assessor for valid scoring.
MADRS Severity Bands
Montgomery & Åsberg (1979). ≤10 is the remission criterion adopted by most antidepressant trials.
The 10 MADRS Items
Each item scored 0–6. Items reflect the core domains of clinical depression assessment.
MADRS vs HAM-D vs PHQ-9
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Depression Outcomes Tracking in HiBoop
MADRS alongside PHQ-9 and HAM-D, clinician-administered and self-report measures working together for treatment monitoring.
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