Clinician or parent? Hand your device over with the score hidden, or send the test to their phone.
17 questions · about 5–8 minutes
For each one, pick the answer that fits you best over the past week. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is saved or sent unless you choose to email the results. This is a self-report adaptation of a clinician-administered scale. Results may differ from a professional evaluation. This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a clinical diagnosis. If you are experiencing thoughts of self-harm, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately.
- Questions
- 17
- Time
- 5–8 min
- Looks back over
- The past week
- Score range
- 0–52
- Cost
- Free
What the HAM-D measures
- Depressed mood and feelings of sadness
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Suicidal ideation
- Insomnia (early, middle, and late)
- Work and activity impairment
- Psychomotor retardation and agitation
- Anxiety (psychological and somatic)
- Somatic symptoms and appetite changes
- Hypochondriasis and loss of insight
- Weight loss
About the HAM-D
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was developed by Dr. Max Hamilton in 1960 and remains one of the most extensively used and studied depression measures in clinical research and practice. Originally designed as a clinician-administered instrument, it has been adapted for self-report use to increase accessibility.
The HAM-D is notable for its comprehensive coverage of depressive symptoms, including somatic complaints that may be overlooked by other instruments. The 17-item version (HAM-D-17) is the most commonly used, though versions with 21, 24, and 29 items also exist. It is frequently used as an outcome measure in clinical trials for antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.
Note: This is a self-report adaptation. The original HAM-D is designed to be administered by a trained clinician during a structured interview. Self-report results may differ from clinician-administered scores.
How the HAM-D is scored
- Each question has its own set of answers, worth from 0 to 4 points depending on the question.
- The answers are added together for a total from 0 to 52.
HAM-D score ranges
The ranges this quiz uses to label a score. They describe where a score falls, not a diagnosis.
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Normal / No Depression | 0–7 |
| Mild Depression | 8–13 |
| Moderate Depression | 14–18 |
| Severe Depression | 19–22 |
| Very Severe Depression | 23–52 |
How to read the results
- It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. The score describes the past week, and a label only says where that falls compared with the people the questionnaire was tested on. A word like "mild" does not mean a mild disorder.
- Look at the answers, not only the total. Which questions scored highest often says more about what to work on than the number does.
- Compare with yourself over time. Taking it again in a few weeks, or after starting therapy, shows whether things are moving. Compare each score with your own earlier one, not with someone else's.
- Talk it through. A clinician will ask what no questionnaire can: how long it has been like this, what else is going on, and how much it gets in the way.
- The safety question counts on its own. Question 3 asks about thoughts of death or self-harm. Any answer other than "Absent" matters whatever the total, and is worth raising with a professional straight away. If you are having those thoughts now, call or text 988.
The HAM-D compared with similar tests
| Test | Screens for | Questions | Looks back over | Asks about suicide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHQ-9 | Depression | 9 | The past two weeks | Yes |
| EPDS | Depression in pregnancy and after birth | 10 | The past seven days | Yes |
| CESD-R | Depression, as a community screen | 20 | The past two weeks | Yes |
| HAM-D (this page) | Depression, including physical symptoms | 17 | The past week | Yes |
| MADRS | Depression, and how it changes in treatment | 10 | The past week | Yes |
| GAD-7 | Generalized anxiety | 7 | The past two weeks | No |
| OCI-R | Obsessions and compulsions | 18 | The past month | No |
| HAM-A | Anxiety, including physical symptoms | 14 | The past week | No |
| DASS-21 | Depression, anxiety and stress, scored separately | 21 | The past week | No |
Using the HAM-D with clients
- Baseline, then repeat. Give it at intake, then at regular intervals, and compare each score with the client's own earlier ones to see whether treatment is working.
- Hand to client. Give it on your own device in session. The questions fill the screen with nothing else on it, and the scores stay hidden until you take the device back and press Show results.
- Send to someone. Send a link before the session by text or email. Tick "Ask for a copy of their results" and their results page offers to email you their score. They decide whether to send it. Your address travels in the link itself and never reaches our servers.
- Copy summary and Print. The results screen copies a one-line summary for the session note, or prints the results on their own.
- Nothing is stored. Answers stay in the browser. Results leave it only when someone chooses to email them, and that email is not kept.
Diagnosis codes often documented for this concern
For reference only. A screening score is not a diagnosis, and none of these follows from a score on its own.
- F32.0 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Mild
- F32.1 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Moderate
- F32.2 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Severe
- F32.3 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Severe with Psychotic Features
- F32.9 Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, Unspecified
- F33.0 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Mild
- F33.1 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate
- F33.2 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe
- F33.3 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe with Psychotic Features
- F33.9 Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Unspecified
- F34.1 Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- F43.21 Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood
Where to go from here
- Depression Therapy at Crown Counseling · in Brooklyn and online across New York
- Free resources for therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HAM-D?+
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D or HDRS) is a 17-item instrument created by Dr. Max Hamilton in 1960. It is one of the most widely used measures of depression severity in clinical research and practice. This version is a self-report adaptation of the clinician-administered original.
How is the HAM-D different from the PHQ-9?+
The PHQ-9 is a brief 9-item self-report screener focused on DSM criteria for depression. The HAM-D is more comprehensive (17 items) and was originally clinician-administered, covering additional dimensions like somatic symptoms, insomnia subtypes, and psychomotor changes in greater detail.
Why do some questions have different numbers of response options?+
The HAM-D uses variable scaling: some items are scored 0-4 (5 options) and others 0-2 (3 options), reflecting the clinical judgment framework of the original instrument. Items with fewer options typically assess more straightforward, binary symptoms.
What is the maximum possible score?+
The maximum possible score on the HAM-D-17 is 52. Scores of 0-7 indicate normal, 8-13 mild, 14-18 moderate, 19-22 severe, and 23+ very severe depression.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960;23(1):56-62.
- Zimmerman M, Martinez JH, Young D, et al. Severity classification on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. J Affect Disord. 2013;150(2):384-388.
- Bagby RM, Ryder AG, Schuller DR, Marshall MB. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale: has the gold standard become a lead weight? Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161(12):2163-2177.
- American Psychiatric Association. Handbook of Psychiatric Measures. 2nd ed. 2008.