The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a psychological questionnaire used by healthcare professionals to measure the severity of a person’s anxiety. It was created by Max Hamilton in 1959. The scale consists of 14 items, each describing a symptom of anxiety. Each item is scored on a scale from 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with the total score ranging from 0 to 56. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety.
The 14 items assess various aspects of anxiety, including mood, fears, tension, insomnia, intellectual (cognitive) symptoms, and somatic (physical) symptoms. The HAM-A is commonly used in both clinical settings and research to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments and to understand more about anxiety disorders.
Professionals use The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale to help diagnose anxiety disorders and to monitor changes in symptoms over time. It is considered a reliable and valid measure of anxiety but is typically used alongside other assessments for a comprehensive evaluation.
FREE PDF DOWNLOAD OF HAMILTON ANXIETY RATING SCALE (HAM-A)
