Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
HAM-D is a clinician-rated depression scale with several published item-set lengths. This page is a catalogue landing for clinics, not a self-test and not a specific scoring claim.
Overview
What is the HAM-D?
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is among the oldest clinician-rated depression measures still referenced in research and some services. Multiple item counts and scoring conventions exist. Naming HAM-D without specifying the form is not enough for clinical operations.
Development and clinical use
Max Hamilton published the scale in 1960. Later groups produced 17-item, 21-item, and other variants, plus structured interview guides. Services must name the version they actually use.
- Administrator
- Trained clinician
- Item set
- Must be specified
- Mode
- Interview and rating
- Typical use
- Severity monitoring
- Risk if unspecified
- Incomparable scores
- Clinical role
- Severity support
Administration
A focused clinician rating
A clinician rates items after interview using the chosen version's anchors. It is not a client-completed questionnaire. Digital use still requires the official item set and rater instructions.
- One rated item at a time with visible progress
- Keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and review steps for the rater
- Clear confirmation that the rating is stored for clinic review
The illustration shows a rater flow without reproducing Hamilton items.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
Because several HAM-D versions exist, this page does not present a single total range or cutoff. Check the official manual for the exact item set before comparing scores across time or services.
References
- Original Hamilton scaleHamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23:56-62.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the HAM-D
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
Which HAM-D is this catalogue entry?
The entry does not select a production item set. Your clinic must name the exact version, scoring rule, and training materials.
Can patients fill HAM-D themselves?
No. It is clinician-rated. Do not convert it into an unsupervised self-report without an authorised adaptation.
Does HAM-D diagnose depression?
No. It is a rated severity instrument used inside clinician-led assessment.
Can I complete it here?
No. This is an educational landing, not a live rating session.