Hamilton Depression Rating Scale - Are You Depressed? - Take This Test To Find Out!

If you would like to know more about the Hamilton depression rating scale then read on. In this article we will be taking a closer look at this scale, we will also discuss what it is used for, a brief history of it, and how it is used. When you have finished reading this article you should have a basic understanding of what the depression rating scale actually is.

The Hamilton depression rating scale (also abbreviated as HDS or HAMD) is a test that is used to measure how severe an individual's symptoms of depression are. There are other names for this scale and these include the Hamilton rating scale for depression and the Hamilton depression rating scale.

So who can use that HDS? This depression scale is used for both children and adults alike. It is usually used prior to the doctor asking the patient to use a particular form of depression medication or treatment, it is also used during the use of this medication or treatment. When the test has been carried out the doctor will use the results to dictate whether a higher or lower dosage of medication is necessary for the patient.

Now let's take a brief look at the history of this depression rating scale. This scale was developed by a man called Max Hamilton in the 1960s to be used during interviews with depressed patients, however it is not the same as the one that is being used today. Seven years later the original HDS was revised. Now it is the standard measure of depression throughout the world.

/p>

This rating scale is not perfect and there are some flaws. For example the scoring is done by the interviewer so his or her interpretation will have a direct effect on the results, the flaw is that each interviewers interpretation may differ slightly.

So what does the test involve? The test consists of an informal interview that is made up of either 17 or 21 questions which the interviewer asks the patient. Each answer that the patient gives is given a score. At the end of the interview the overall score is added together and the result is used to indicate whether the individual is suffering from mild, moderate or severe depression.

The Hamilton depression scale is widely known for its reliability and there is a lot of evidence to support this, which is the reason why it is so widely used.

In conclusion, depression is a very common disorder and its symptoms can ruin the life of the sufferer, as well as his or her loved ones. Fortunately doctors know enough about depression to treat it effectively. But before it can be treated it must be diagnosed, and the severity of the depression must also be understood. This is where HDS plays a very important part. Without it diagnosing and gauging the severity of the mental symptoms of depression would be a very difficult task.

Now that you have read this article should have a good understanding of the Hamilton depression rating scale and how important it is in the diagnosis of depression.

For more information on depression head over to http://www.depressionfactsonline.com where you can also find out what causes depression and clinical depression symptoms