Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 21-Item Clinical Classification

**Semantic type:** Intellectual Product

**Definition:** A standardized rating scale developed by M. Hamilton in 1960 which is used to evaluate the severity of an individual's depression. This version of the instrument contains all 21 questions or types of symptoms associated with depression such as anxiety, mood, insomnia, and somatic symptoms experienced within the past week and is completed during a semi-structured interview. Each symptom is rated on a scale of 0-2, 0-3, or 0-4 with 0 being absent and 2, 3, or 4 being the most severe.

**Synonyms:** - HAMD 21 - HAMD-21 - HAMD2