Determine severity of depression
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D or HDRS) is the most commonly used instrument for assessing symptoms of depression. It has been used in many key studies of depression and its treatment. The instrument is designed to be administered by clinicians after a structured or unstructured interview of the patient to determine their symptoms. A total score is calculated by summing the individual scores from each question.
While patients with mild depression often remit spontaneously or respond to psychological (talking) therapies, patients with increasingly severe depression are more likely to benefit from a combination of treatments including biological therapies such as medication.
Most studies of depression consider a patient to have experienced 'response' to treatment if the score decreases by more than 50%. 'Remission' is commonly understood to be a score below 7.
Hamilton M.
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D or HDRS) is the most commonly used instrument for assessing symptoms of depression. It has been used in many key studies of depression and its treatment. The instrument is designed to be administered by clinicians after a structured or unstructured interview of the patient to determine their symptoms. A total score is calculated by summing the individual scores from each question.
While patients with mild depression often remit spontaneously or respond to psychological (talking) therapies, patients with increasingly severe depression are more likely to benefit from a combination of treatments including biological therapies such as medication.
Most studies of depression consider a patient to have experienced 'response' to treatment if the score decreases by more than 50%. 'Remission' is commonly understood to be a score below 7.
Hamilton M.
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