The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, often abbreviated as HAM-A, is a psychological questionnaire used by clinicians to rate the severity of a patient’s anxiety. It was one of the first rating scales developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms, and it is still widely used in both clinical and research settings.
Imagine the HAM-A as a detailed interview about how you’ve been feeling lately, with a focus on symptoms related to anxiety. The clinician will ask about a variety of symptoms, such as feelings of nervousness, tension, fear, insomnia, and somatic complaints related to anxiety.
The HAM-A consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), depending on the severity of the symptoms. The higher the total score, the more severe the person’s anxiety. This scale helps clinicians to identify and quantify the severity of anxiety, which can be particularly useful in tracking changes in anxiety levels over time and in response to treatment.