Dr. Nathan and the Scales

David L. Nathan, MD, DFAPA developed the NTS‑R and NTS‑A as communication tools in his practice of psychiatry. While patients would often want guidance about choosing between treatment options, he found that there was no standardized way for clinicians to communicate the strength of treatment recommendations, which was a major unmet need when the decision was a nuanced one.

Always seeking ways of streamlining his solo private practice, he began quantifying treatment recommendations on a scale of 1 to 5, which could be easily communicated as well as documented in a patient’s medical record. This evolved over the course of many years into the Treatment Recommendation Scale, now called the NTS‑R.

Several years ago, at the urging of colleagues who were beginning to use the NTS‑R, he created a corresponding scale for patients to express their opinions about treatment options—the NTS‑A.

Seeking no profit from these unique communication tools, he has offered the scales for use by all clinicians, patients and researchers free of charge.

Dr. Nathan is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He serves as the Director of Continuing Medical Education for the Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) in Princeton, New Jersey and the Director of Professional Education for Princeton House Behavioral Health. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Nathan serves as the Physician Advisor for the New Jersey State Chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and lectures to patient groups, physicians and the lay public in various settings. He has published numerous articles in the psychiatric and lay press.

Dr. Nathan’s professional website may be seen here.