HAM-D

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17)

The 17-item clinician-rated Hamilton scale, the long-standing standard for measuring depression severity in clinical trials. Items use mixed 0–4 and 0–2 ranges; total 0–52. (21- and 24-item variants exist; this is the 17-item version.)

For use by qualified clinicians as a decision-support aid. Scores support but do not replace clinical judgment. This is not a diagnostic instrument and no information is stored or transmitted.

Rate each item from a clinical interview covering symptoms over the past week. Only the first 17 items contribute to the total score.

Score interpretation

Score	Severity	Guidance
0–7	None / remission	No depression or clinical remission.
8–13	Mild	Mild depression.
14–18	Moderate	Moderate depression.
19–22	Severe	Severe depression.
23–52	Very severe	Very severe depression.

HAM-D — Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17)

Clinician-rated · Completed

Patient: ______________________	DOB / ID: ______________________
Date: 2026-07-18	Clinician: ______________________

Rate each item from a clinical interview covering symptoms over the past week. Only the first 17 items contribute to the total score.

1. Depressed mood
☐0Absent
☐1Indicated only on questioning
☐2Reported spontaneously in verbal report
☐3Communicated non-verbally (facial expression, posture, voice, tendency to weep)
☐4Reports virtually only these feeling states in spontaneous verbal and non-verbal communication
2. Feelings of guilt
☐0Absent
☐1Self-reproach, feels he has let people down
☐2Ideas of guilt or rumination over past errors or sinful deeds
☐3Present illness is a punishment; delusions of guilt
☐4Hears accusatory or denunciatory voices and/or experiences threatening visual hallucinations
3. Suicide
☐0Absent
☐1Feels life is not worth living
☐2Wishes he were dead, or any thoughts of possible death to self
☐3Suicidal ideas or gesture
☐4Attempts at suicide
4. Insomnia — early
☐0No difficulty falling asleep
☐1Occasional difficulty falling asleep (more than half an hour)
☐2Nightly difficulty falling asleep
5. Insomnia — middle
☐0No difficulty
☐1Restless and disturbed during the night
☐2Waking during the night — any getting out of bed (except to void)
6. Insomnia — late
☐0No difficulty
☐1Waking in early hours but goes back to sleep
☐2Unable to fall asleep again if he gets out of bed
7. Work and activities
☐0No difficulty
☐1Thoughts and feelings of incapacity, fatigue, or weakness related to activities
☐2Loss of interest in activity, hobbies, or work
☐3Decrease in actual time spent in activities or decrease in productivity
☐4Stopped working because of present illness
8. Retardation (psychomotor)
☐0Normal speech and thought
☐1Slight retardation at interview
☐2Obvious retardation at interview
☐3Interview difficult
☐4Complete stupor
9. Agitation
☐0None
☐1Fidgetiness
☐2Playing with hands, hair, etc.
☐3Moving about, can’t sit still
☐4Hand wringing, nail biting, hair-pulling, biting of lips
10. Anxiety (psychic)
☐0No difficulty
☐1Subjective tension and irritability
☐2Worrying about minor matters
☐3Apprehensive attitude apparent in face or speech
☐4Fears expressed without questioning
11. Anxiety (somatic)
☐0Absent
☐1Mild
☐2Moderate
☐3Severe
☐4Incapacitating
12. Somatic symptoms — gastrointestinal
☐0None
☐1Loss of appetite but eating without staff encouragement; heavy feelings in abdomen
☐2Difficulty eating without urging; requires medication for GI symptoms
13. Somatic symptoms — general
☐0None
☐1Heaviness in limbs, back or head; muscle aches; loss of energy and fatigability
☐2Any clear-cut symptom
14. Genital symptoms
☐0Absent
☐1Mild (loss of libido, menstrual disturbances)
☐2Severe
15. Hypochondriasis
☐0Not present
☐1Self-absorption (bodily)
☐2Preoccupation with health
☐3Frequent complaints, requests for help, etc.
☐4Hypochondriacal delusions
16. Loss of weight
☐0No weight loss
☐1Probable weight loss associated with present illness
☐2Definite weight loss (according to patient)
17. Insight
☐0Acknowledges being depressed and ill
☐1Acknowledges illness but attributes it to bad food, climate, overwork, virus, need for rest, etc.
☐2Denies being ill at all

Total score: 0 / 52 — None / remission

No depression or clinical remission.

Source: Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23:56–62. Public domain.

For use by qualified clinicians as a decision-support aid. Scores support but do not replace clinical judgment. This is not a diagnostic instrument and no information is stored or transmitted.