Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

The Hamilton scale ( HAMD or HAM- D) (short for Hamilton rating scale for depression ), is a diagnostic tool for determining the severity of a depressive disorder.

The Hamilton scale, called a clinical observer rating scale, was introduced in 1960 by Max Hamilton.

It consists of 17 or in other versions from 21 or 24 questions, in which the examiner (not the patient himself, therefore " foreign judgment " ) are each assessed on a scale from 0 to 4 or 0 to 2, how hard a particular symptom pronounced is. Examples include feelings of guilt, different types of insomnia, hypochondria or suicidal thoughts.

The result is a numerical value. As of 10 points is referred to as a light, from 20 of moderate and down 30 points from a severe depression. In clinical studies on depression, the HAMD is the most widely used such a scale.