The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is a kind of questionnaire 📝 that mental health professionals use to assess the severity of depression symptoms in a patient.
The questionnaire includes questions about symptoms of depression such as sadness 😞, anxiety 😟, insomnia 😴, and suicidal thoughts 😔. Each question is rated on a scale from 0 to 4, with a total score of up to 45.
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is useful for psychiatrists to diagnose depression and monitor the evolution of the condition 👩⚕️. It can also help mental health professionals create an appropriate treatment plan for the patient 😊.
In summary, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is an important tool for mental health professionals to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in a patient. This questionnaire helps with accurate diagnosis, tracking the condition, and tailoring a suitable treatment plan 😊.
| 1. Depressed Mood | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No |
| 1 | Yes, but only if I’m asked about it |
| 2 | Yes, I bring it up spontaneously, verbally or with sounds (e.g., sobbing) |
| 3 | Yes, expressed nonverbally (e.g., facial expression, posture, tone of voice, tendency to cry…) |
| 4 | Yes, both verbally and nonverbally expressed |
| 2. Feelings of Guilt | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No feelings of guilt |
| 1 | I blame myself or feel I’ve hurt others |
| 2 | I feel guilty or ashamed about past mistakes or wrongdoings |
| 3 | I see my illness as a punishment. I have visual hallucinations |
| 3. Suicide | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No suicidal thoughts |
| 1 | I feel life isn’t worth living |
| 2 | I wish I were dead |
| 3 | I have suicidal thoughts |
| 4 | Suicide attempt |
| 4. Insomnia — Onset | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No difficulty |
| 1 | Occasional trouble falling asleep |
| 2 | Trouble falling asleep every night |
| 5. Insomnia — Middle | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No difficulty |
| 1 | Disturbed sleep or restlessness during the night |
| 2 | I wake up during the night |
| 6. Insomnia — Early Morning | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No difficulty |
| 1 | I wake up very early but fall back asleep |
| 2 | I can’t fall back asleep if I wake up |
| 7. Work and Activities | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No difficulty |
| 1 | Thoughts and feelings of helplessness, fatigue, and weakness while working |
| 2 | Disinterest in work or leisure activities |
| 3 | Sick leave |
| 8. Retardation (Slowness) | |
|---|---|
| 0 | Normal thoughts and speech |
| 1 | Slight slowing |
| 2 | Obvious slowing |
| 3 | Marked slowing |
| 9. Agitation | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Twitching or muscle tension |
| 2 | I fidget with my hands, hair, etc. |
| 3 | I can’t sit still |
| 4 | I wring my hands, bite my nails, pull my hair, bite my lips |
| 10. Anxiety (Psychic) | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Mild symptoms (tension, irritability, trouble concentrating) |
| 2 | Moderate symptoms (worry about minor issues) |
| 3 | Severe symptoms (obvious worry in speech) |
| 4 | Extremely disabling symptoms |
| 11. Anxiety (Somatic) | |
|---|---|
| 0 | No symptoms |
| 1 | Mild symptoms |
| 2 | Moderate symptoms |
| 3 | Severe symptoms |
| 4 | Extremely disabling symptoms |
| 12. Gastrointestinal Somatic Symptoms | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Poor appetite but still eating |
| 2 | Poor appetite but still eating |
| 3 | I need medication for GI symptoms |
| 13. General Somatic Symptoms | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Heaviness in limbs, back, or head. Back pain, headaches, muscle aches, loss of energy, and fatigue |
| 14. Genital Symptoms | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Mild |
| 2 | Severe |
| 15. Hypochondria (Obsessive Health Anxiety) | |
|---|---|
| 0 | None |
| 1 | Focused on my body |
| 2 | Preoccupied with my health |
| 3 | Preoccupied with my health |
| 4 | Preoccupied with my health |
| --- | --- |