GlossaryMADRS

MADRS

Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale — a validated 10-item clinician-rated scale measuring depression severity, scored from 0 (no symptoms) to 60 (severe). A 50% reduction from baseline is generally considered a treatment response; a score below 10 indicates remission. Used as a key secondary outcome measure in psilocybin depression trials including the landmark 2021 NEJM vs escitalopram study. Distinct from the QIDS-SR, which is self-reported.

Full Explanation

MADRS (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale) is a validated 10-item clinician-rated scale measuring depression severity, scored from 0 (no symptoms) to 60 (severe). A 50% reduction from baseline is generally considered a treatment response; a score below 10 indicates remission. Used as a key secondary outcome measure in psilocybin depression trials including the landmark 2021 NEJM vs escitalopram study. Distinct from the QIDS-SR, which is self-reported.

See: Depression (/conditions/depression), Psilocybin vs SSRIs (/guides/psilocybin-vs-ssris).

Why It Matters

When you see MADRS in trial results, you can interpret response (50% drop) and remission (score below 10) and compare psilocybin studies to standard depression research.

Related Guides

Psilocybin vs SSRIs

Back to Glossary

Explore More Terms

Afterglow

The period of heightened mood, openness, and mental flexibility that commonly follows a full-dose psilocybin session — typically lasting 24 hours to several weeks. During the afterglow, neuroplasticity is elevated, default mode network activity is altered, and emotional and cognitive patterns are unusually open to change. Considered the critical integration window: therapeutic insights translate into lasting behavior change most effectively during this period. (Majić et al., 2015)

Spores

Reproductive cells produced by mushrooms, used to start new cultures and legal to possess in most US states.

Set and Setting

The combination of mindset (set) and environment (setting) that shapes a psychedelic experience.

Integration

The process of making meaning from a psychedelic experience and applying insights to daily life.

Microdosing

Taking sub-perceptual doses of psilocybin on a regular schedule for subtle cognitive and emotional benefits.

Psilocybin

A naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms that produces altered states of consciousness.