The self-reported Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale is a useful evaluative tool in major depressive disorder

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of Patient-reported Outcomes (PROs) as secondary endpoints in the development of new antidepressants has grown in recent years. The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the 9-item, patient-administered version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S).MethodsData from a multicentre, double-blind, 8-week, randomised controlled trial of 278 outpatients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder were used to evaluate the validity, reliability and sensitivity to change of the MADRS-S using psychometric methods. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to identify the most appropriate threshold to define perceived remission.ResultsNo missing values were found at the item level, indicating good acceptability of the scale. The construct validity was satisfactory: all items contributed to a common underlying concept, as expected. The correlation between MADRS-S and physicians' MADRS was moderate (r = 0.54, p < 0.001) indicating that MADRS-S is complementary rather than redundant to the MADRS. Cronbach's alpha was 0.84, and the stability over time of the scale, estimated on a sub-sample of patients whose health status did not change during the first week of the study, was good (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.78). MADRS-S sensitivity to change was shown. Using a threshold value of 5, the definition of "perceived remission" reached a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 75%.ConclusionTaking account of patient's perceptions of the severity of their own symptoms along with the psychometric properties of the MADRS-S enable its use for evaluative purposes in the development of new antidepressant drugs.

Patients’ perspectives on the use of the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale self-assessment version in primary care

“…[3] Another study concluded that patients accepted MADRS-S as a complement to the physician-administered version of the scale and that MADRS-S was clinically valuable and valid for use in clinical practice and research. [10] Satisfactory correspondence between MADRS-S and Beck Depression Inventory II has also been demonstrated.…”

“…Many such scales exist, but the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (self-rating version) (MADRS-S) is the most commonly used in Sweden. [2] Studies indicate that routine assessments of patients’ depressive symptoms in clinical practice are beneficial;[1] they can help GPs evaluate the progress of depression,[3] and can facilitate cooperation and communication between the GP and the patient Communication is of great importance during the consultation and this benefits patients in many ways, including increasing satisfaction with care and improving patients’ understanding of and knowledge about their condition. [4,5] However, according to a systematic review on “Diagnosis and follow up of affective disorders”,[1] there are no studies of acceptable quality that compare rating scales to assess severity of depression against an adequate reference standard, why the review asserts that there is no evidence to support their use to monitor depression severity during treatment.…”

Exposure and Response Prevention in the Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Case Series

“…(Note that the MADRS-S is sometimes rated on a zero to six with no half-steps, e.g., Svanborg & Ekselius [2003]. The scale has been reported to possess good psychometric properties, with a test-retest reliability of .78 and an internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of .84 (Fantino & Moore, 2009). Svanborg and Åsberg (2001) reported a mean score of 14.5 (SD=4.7) for patients with a diagnosis of major depression, whereas those in full remission had a mean score of 1.7 (SD=0.8).…”

Cognitive behaviour therapy in women with fibromyalgia: A randomized clinical trial

“…It is a self-reported scale based on evaluations of the past three days regarding nine issues: mood, feelings of unease, sleep, appetite, ability to concentrate, initiative, emotional involvement, pessimism and zest for life on seven-point scales (range 0-6 individual items, total range 0-54) [36][37][38]. The consistency of the MADRS-S is satisfactory with Cronbach's alpha 0.84 [38]. As sleep disturbance is an important feature the item 'sleep' in the MADRS-S instrument, it will be analyzed separately.…”