The Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale

The Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), which was designed to be sensitive to the effects of antidepressants, includes ten depressive symptoms.¹ Some studies evaluating antidepressant effect have used the six-item MADRS subscale, which includes only the following symptoms: apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, lassitude, inability to feel and pessimistic thoughts.³

References:
1. Montgomery SA, Asberg M. A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. Br J Psychiatry 1979; 134: 382–389.

2. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition – text revision. © American Psychiatric Association, 2022.

3. Bech P, Tanghøj P, Andersen HF, Overø K. Citalopram dose-response revisited using an alternative psychometric approach to evaluate clinical effects of four fixed citalopram doses compared to placebo in patients with major depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2002; 163 (1): 20–25.