Modified Depression Scale – MDS
Measures the frequency of depressive symptoms in adolescents and youth.
6 Questions
~2 min
Custom
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Modified Depression Scale – MDS was developed by Pamela Orpinas (1993). It is designed to measure Depressive symptoms. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and young adults (grades 10-18).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 6 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Seldom, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Often, 5 = Always.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 6 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score (Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms): 6 – 30
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.