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MADRS-S

Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale — Self-Report

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale — Self-Report (MADRS-S) is a 9-item depression assessment for adults. It typically takes about 4 minutes to complete, producing a total score from 0 to 54 where higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

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Items

9

Time to complete

4 min

Population

adult

Score range

0–54

About the MADRS-S

The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale — Self-Report (MADRS-S) is a 9-item depression assessment for adults. It typically takes about 4 minutes to complete, producing a total score from 0 to 54 where higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

First published in 1994 by Svanborg P, Åsberg M, the MADRS-S is free to use for clinical and research purposes with attribution. With Psyche Assess you can send the MADRS-S to clients online, score it automatically, and generate a clinician-ready report in seconds.

MADRS-S questions

Response scale
0 = 0 — Not at all1 = 12 = 2 — Some of the time3 = 34 = 4 — Most of the time5 = 56 = 6 — All of the time
  1. 1

    Mood — how have your spirits been? (low / depressed?)

  2. 2

    Feelings of unease — restlessness, inner tension, panic.

  3. 3

    Sleep — quality and amount of sleep.

  4. 4

    Appetite — interest in food.

  5. 5

    Ability to concentrate — focus on tasks, reading, conversations.

  6. 6

    Initiative — getting started on activities.

  7. 7

    Emotional involvement — feeling for others and surroundings.

  8. 8

    Pessimism — thoughts of guilt, worthlessness, self-criticism.

  9. 9

    Zest for life — thoughts of taking your own life.

    Risk item

Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.

Scoring & interpretation

RangeBandInterpretation
0–12No / minimalNo or minimal depression.
13–19MildMild depression; monitor.
20–34ModerateModerate depression; active treatment indicated.
35–54SevereSevere depression; specialist referral recommended.

Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

Frequently asked questions

How many items does the MADRS-S have?

The MADRS-S has 9 items and takes about 4 minutes to complete.

How is the MADRS-S scored?

Item responses are summed for a total score from 0 to 54, where higher scores indicate greater severity. Totals fall into the interpretive bands shown above.

Is the MADRS-S free to use?

The MADRS-S is free to use for clinical and research purposes provided the authors are credited and the item wording is not altered.

Who is the MADRS-S for?

The MADRS-S is designed for adult and is used by clinicians, researchers, and integrated-care teams.

Source & references

AuthorsSvanborg P, Åsberg M
First published1994
CitationSvanborg P, Åsberg M. A new self-rating scale for depression and anxiety states based on the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1994;89(1):21-28.
PubMed8140903
LicenseOpen license
Source obtained from https://www.actapsychiatrica.com on 2026-05-16. Every instrument in our catalog has a documented, legitimate source — never scraped from another platform.

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