Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Also written as: HAM-A — Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
A clinician-rated scale measuring the severity of anxiety symptoms across psychological and somatic domains.
Full Definition
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a 14-item clinician-administered assessment tool that evaluates the severity of anxiety symptoms. It measures both psychic anxiety (mental agitation and psychological distress) and somatic anxiety (physical complaints related to anxiety). Each item is scored from 0-4, with total scores ranging from 0-56. Scores of 18-24 indicate mild to moderate anxiety, while scores above 25 suggest severe anxiety. The scale is widely used in clinical trials and practice.
Usage
Usage note: Specify HAM-A to distinguish from Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D).
In Context
- "The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale score decreased from 28 to 15 after eight weeks of treatment." — Treatment outcome report
- "HAM-A administration requires clinical interview skills to ensure accurate symptom assessment." — Assessment protocol