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HAM-D (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale)

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale has proven useful for determining the level of depression before, during, and after treatment.
It is based on the clinician's interview with the patient and probes symptoms such as depressed mood, guilty feelings, suicide, sleep disturbances, anxiety levels and weight loss.
The interview and scoring takes about 15 minutes. The rater enters a number for each symptom construct that ranges from 0 (not present) to 4 (extreme symptoms).
Download HAM-D Form (PDF)
Download HAM-D Instructions (PDF)
More about Depression and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
  • A Rating Scale for Depression
    By M. Hamilton,
    Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 23:56-62, 1960
    This is the original publication of the HAM-D.
  • Depression in Dementia: Diagnosis and Treatment
    By Kiran Rabheru, MD,
    Psychiatric Times 23(13), November 2004
    Many patients who have Alzheimer's disease also suffer from depression. Dr. Rabheru discusses how the HAM-D and other rating scales can help in sorting through the diagnostic difficulties and briefly describes treatment options.
  • Researchers Tackle the Underdiagnosis and Undertreatment of Late-Life Depression
    By William Kanapaux,
    Psychiatric Times 21(7), June 2004
    The recognition and management of major depression in elderly patients remains a continuing problem. This article explores the unmet needs, diagnostic hurdles, and treatment alternatives provided by health care teams working in different settings.
  • The Impact of Medical Comorbidity on Acute Treatment in Major Depressive Disorder
    By Dan V. Iosifescu, MD, et. al.,
    American Journal of Psychiatry 160:2122-2127, December 2003
    These investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital investigated the role of comorbid medical illness on the severity of depression. They used the HAM-D as one of the major tools to evaluate the outcomes of antidepressant treatment.
Jay M. Pomerantz, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School, Boston

A large number of psychiatric tests, scales, and forms have been created over the years to help in diagnosing mental illness and assisting in treatment and follow-up. This Web-based service offers copies of some of the most popular and useful instruments. The hope is that healthcare professionals—whether in specialty practices, primary-care settings, or emergency services—will find this format convenient and useful, allowing them to find the right instrument quickly, print it out for immediate use with patients, and add the findings to their records. Since most of the tools are designed for repeated use over time, they will provide not only a longitudinal view but also document the medical record.

In addition to the forms themselves, you will find instructions on how to administer and score the scales as well as related articles and links to other useful guidance. When appropriate, we will supply video resources for additional insights.

These scales have demonstrated high levels of accuracy and validity and the results can give important clues to possible mental disorders that warrant follow up. However, please remember that they depend on the skills of the clinicians administering them and the accuracy of the information provided by the patients.