BACKGROUND Time- and cost-effective self-rating scales of depressive symptoms are particularly valuable for frequent use in large-scale effectiveness trials. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the French version of the self-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S) and determine whether it might complement the MADRS in monitoring depression severity and change over time in routine clinical practice. METHODS Sixty-three adult outpatients with a current depressive episode completed the MADRS-S and were interviewed with the MADRS on two occasions, within a 1-month interval. RESULTS All patients readily accepted the MADRS-S. It showed good to excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.85 at Time 1; 0.94 at Time 2). Its factor structure revealed that a single component explained a large proportion of variability (47.0% at Time 1; 68.8% at Time 2). Concurrent validity of the self- and clinician-rated versions was good (Pearson's correlation coefficients for total scores 0.81 at Time 1; 0.91 at Time 2). The MADRS-S was sensitive to change over the 4-week observation period (correlation of 0.71 between change scores on self- and clinician-rated instruments). CONCLUSIONS Generalizability is restricted to outpatients with moderate to severe depression, and the MADRS-S ability to measure treatment effects needs to be examined. CONCLUSIONS The present study indicates that the MADRS-S displays favourable psychometric properties and suggests that it might be a valid complement to the MADRS, both in research settings and clinical practice.