Inter-rater Reliability of the Traditional Chinese Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale using a Structured Interview: A Preliminary Study

Inter-rater Reliability of the Traditional Chinese Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale using a Structured Interview: A Preliminary Study

Objectives: The Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is a commonly used tool for assessing depression, but there is no version available in traditional Chinese. In this study, we intended to develop such a version. Methods: With a structured interview guide, three raters independently administered the MADRS to a sample of study participants with depressive disorders. The inter-rater reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: Twenty study participants completed the assessment by three raters. The data showed significantly higher inter-rater reliability (p < 0.05), with ICC values ranging from 0.90 to 0.97. The high correlation coefficients observed in the total scores between each pair of raters (0.98, 0.98, and 0.99), indicated a high degree of consistency and agreement. Conclusion: These findings support the use of the traditional Chinese MADRS as a reliable tool for assessing depressive symptoms in traditional Chinese-speaking Taiwanese populations.