[Prospective study using a modified Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale].
BACKGROUND
The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS) is one of the most widely used scales in depression research today. Although relatively pragmatic in its present form, it still takes too long to complete when little time is available, e.g. in observational studies in outpatient settings. A shortened version of the MADRS (sv-MADRS) was therefore developed for use in such situations. The object of this study was to demonstrate indirectly that the sv-MADRS corresponds adequately with the standard MADRS.


METHODS
In the context of an observational study, 11,790 depressive patients were treated with escitalopram. A total of 11,580 with documented sv-MADRS and severe disorder according to the Clinicians's Global Impression Scale (CGI) could be included in the analysis of baseline findings prior to treatment with escitalopram. A total of 10,910 completed the 8-week observational period.


RESULTS
At baseline the sv-MADRS shows high internal consistency, which corresponds well with the German version of the MADRS. Overall the cross-sectional variables and those of change and evaluation show high correlations between CGI and sv-MADRS.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of validity analyses of correlation with the CGI severity measure and with the factor structure of the original MADRS version are encouraging. Further evaluations are required to test comparability with the original version.
Möller
H-J
HJ
Psychiatrische Klinik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 München. hans-juergen.moeller@med.uni-muenchen.de
Schnitker
J
J
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D015283:Citalopram