HAM-D: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

The HAM-D (HDRS) is the criterion-standard 17-item observer-rated scale for measuring depression severity. The benchmark outcome measure in 1,000+ antidepressant clinical trials and the standard for establishing treatment response and remission.

What is the HAM-D?

The HAM-D (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale), also called the HDRS or HRSD, is a 17-item clinician-administered rating scale developed by Max Hamilton in 1960 to quantify the severity of depressive illness. It is the most widely used observer-rated scale for measuring depression in pharmacological research and has been used as the primary outcome measure in the majority of antidepressant clinical trials.

Items are rated on either a 5-point scale (0–4) or a 3-point scale (0–2), depending on the symptom. The 17-item version (HAM-D17) is standard, yielding total scores from 0 to 52. Items assess mood, guilt, suicidality, insomnia, work and activity, psychomotor retardation, agitation, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and vegetative features including appetite, libido, and weight.

The HAM-D is administered by a trained clinician through a semi-structured interview. It captures symptoms over the past week and is particularly sensitive to melancholic features. A ≥50% reduction from baseline defines treatment response; a score of ≤7 defines remission, the two endpoints that anchor FDA antidepressant approval trials.

HAM-D Score Interpreter

Enter a total HAM-D17 score to see severity classification and clinical context.

For educational reference only. HAM-D is clinician-administered, scores should be derived from a structured clinical interview, not self-report.

HAM-D17 Items

Each item is rated by a clinician based on a semi-structured interview covering the past week. Items 1–8, 10, 13–17 are scored 0–4; items 9, 11, 12 are scored 0–2.

Severity Bands

HAM-D17 cutoffs used in clinical trials and practice guidelines. A score of ≤7 is the standard FDA-accepted remission criterion.

HAM-D vs PHQ-9

Both measure depression severity, but they serve different purposes and settings.

• Patient-completed, no clinician time required
• 9 items, fast for routine screening
• Ideal for primary care and high-volume settings
• CPT billable (96127 with modifier) when used for MBC
• Not accepted as primary endpoint in pharma trials
• Observer-rated, captures behavioral signs, not just subjective report
• Criterion standard for antidepressant clinical trials (FDA)
• Sensitive to melancholic features (vegetative symptoms)
• Remission criterion (≤7) widely accepted in research
• Requires trained clinician, not suitable for patient self-report

Administer HAM-D in HiBoop

Structured clinician workflow, automated scoring, and longitudinal tracking built for measurement-based care.