Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D)

Alias: Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRS-D). The most widely used depression scale & the 'gold standard' for other depression scales. Procedure: The evaluation is based on a semistructured interview. Several forms of the HAM-D exist with different numbers of symptom ratings. Most forms have 17 items (some versions have 21) with ratings along a continuum of 0-4 or 0-2 intensity & frequency within the past few days. The items include assessment of: 1) psychomotor retardation 2) insomnia 3) mood 4) insight Advantages: - useful for monitoring a depressed state over time & evaluating the effects of therapy Disadvantages: 1) less effective for the diagnosis of depression 2) overemphasis on somatic & neurovegetative symptoms 3) underemphasis on mood, affective & cognitive changes of depression 4) in the elderly, the HAM-D over-reports changes in psychomotor activity & cognitive complaints 5) the HAM-D is unreliable in patients with dementia 6) no standardized questions 7) depends on the skill of the interviewer to collect information & make rating decisions

General

screening for depression (includes depression assessment tools) depression scale

References

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Osterweil et al eds, McGraw Hill, New York, 2000, pg 113-114