What is the MADRS Scale? A Guide to the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a clinical tool designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. Originally developed in 1979, the MADRS is a ten-item diagnostic questionnaire used by psychiatrists, doctors, and mental health professionals to evaluate a patient's level of depression, particularly in the context of monitoring treatment effectiveness.

At MADRS.net, we provide an accessible online version of this important assessment, allowing you to complete a MADRS self-report questionnaire confidentially and receive immediate results.

Clinical tool assessing depression severity with a score

What Does the MADRS Test Measure?

The MADRS test is a comprehensive assessment that evaluates the core symptoms of depression. A clinician (or in a self-report version, the individual) rates ten key items based on experiences over the past week. Each item is scored on a 0 to 6 scale, where higher scores indicate greater severity.

The 10 items measured by the MADRS assessment are:

  • Apparent Sadness: Encompassing despondency, gloom, and despair, reflected in speech, facial expression, and posture.
  • Reported Sadness: The individual's subjective experience of low spirits or sadness.
  • Inner Tension: Feelings of ill-defined discomfort, edginess, inner turmoil, or mental anguish.
  • Reduced Sleep: A reduction in the duration or depth of sleep compared to the individual's normal pattern.
  • Reduced Appetite: A noticeable loss of appetite compared to normal.
  • Concentration Difficulties: Problems with focus, sustained attention, and decision-making.
  • Lassitude: A sense of weariness, fatigue, or reduced energy related to mental tasks or daily activities.
  • Inability to Feel (Anhedonia): Reduced interest in surroundings or activities that are normally pleasurable.
  • Pessimistic Thoughts: Thoughts of guilt, self-reproach, sinfulness, or ruin.
  • Suicidal Thoughts: Ranging from feeling that life is not worth living to explicit thoughts of suicide.

MADRS Score Interpretation: What Do the Numbers Mean?

The total MADRS score provides a clear, quantitative measure of depression severity. The scores from each of the 10 items are summed to produce a total score ranging from 0 to 60.

Understanding your MADRS score interpretation is a critical step in contextualizing the results. While a formal diagnosis must be made by a qualified professional, the scoring ranges are generally interpreted as follows.

Scoring Ranges Breakdown

  • 0-6: Normal / Symptom-free

  • 7-19: Mild Depression

  • 20-34: Moderate Depression

  • 35-60: Severe Depression

Visualizing MADRS depression score interpretation levels

These scores help clinicians track changes in a patient's condition over time, especially in response to therapy or medication.

How is the MADRS Administered?

Traditionally, the MADRS is a clinician-administered scale. A trained healthcare provider conducts a clinical interview to probe the patient's experiences and then assigns a score for each of the ten items.

However, the MADRS self-report questionnaire has become a valuable and convenient tool for initial screening and personal monitoring. The version available on MADRS.net is designed to be clear and easy to understand, allowing individuals to answer based on their own perceptions. While it's a powerful tool for self-assessment, the results should always be discussed with a healthcare provider for proper context and guidance.

Take a Free and Confidential MADRS Online Test

Ready to gain a clearer understanding of your symptoms? Our free MADRS assessment provides a confidential way to check in with your mental health. The test is straightforward, takes only a few minutes to complete, and you will receive your score instantly.

For a deeper analysis, you can also opt for our AI-powered report, which offers personalized insights based on your responses.

Person taking a MADRS online self-report test

> Take the MADRS Online Test Now <

Frequently Asked Questions about the MADRS Assessment

Is the MADRS a self-report questionnaire?

While the original MADRS was designed for clinicians, it has been widely adapted into a reliable self-report questionnaire. The online MADRS test at MADRS.net is a self-report version that allows individuals to assess their symptoms privately.

How accurate is the MADRS scale?

The MADRS is considered a highly reliable and valid tool for measuring the severity of depression. It is sensitive to changes in symptoms over time, which is why it's frequently used in clinical trials to measure the effectiveness of antidepressants and other treatments.

Who should use the MADRS?

The MADRS can be used by individuals who are experiencing symptoms of depression and want a standardized way to measure their severity. It is also used extensively by healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, general practitioners, and therapists, to diagnose, manage, and monitor depression in their patients.

Important Disclaimer

The information and tools provided on MADRS.net, including the MADRS online test, are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.