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Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS)3

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) Test

Assess depression severity in about 4 minutes to guide clinical decisions. A 17 item, proven scale makes it easy to track symptom change over time and adjust treatment fast.

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Questions: 174 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

23,128 views

2,157 completions

1,531 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

23/30

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)

Measures the severity of depressive symptoms based on a clinician-rated interview.

None to mild

Moderate to severe

Very severe

0 – 13: None to mild | 14 – 22: Moderate to severe | 23 – 30: Very severe

A score of 23 falls in the Very severe range, indicating a high level of depressive symptom severity on this scale.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Psychiatrists and therapists

46%OF USERS

Use it during a clinical interview to rate depression severity and track response to treatment over time.

Primary care clinicians

34%OF USERS

Use it for quick screening and to decide when to adjust treatment or refer a patient for specialized care.

Clinical researchers

20%OF USERS

Use it to quantify depressive symptoms consistently across study visits and compare outcomes between groups.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSfD)

Average

11.5

Normal range

7 — 15.9

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Measurement accuracy depends substantially on the examiner’s training and experience and on careful documentation of the information obtained. The respondent should not be pressured; sufficient time should be allowed to provide a detailed answer, while ensuring that responses remain focused on the question asked. The number of direct questions should be kept to a minimum; when direct questions are necessary, they should be phrased in different ways, combining formats that elicit affirmative and negative responses. When there is doubt about the accuracy of the respondent’s answers, it is advisable to obtain collateral information from family members, friends, healthcare staff, and other relevant sources.

- Absent
- Feels life is not worth living
- Wishes of death or any thoughts of possible death
- Suicidal statements or gestures
- Suicide attempts (any serious attempt is rated 4)
- Absent
- Early morning awakening with return to sleep
- Final insomnia or early morning awakening
- Normal speech and thought
- Mild retardation during the interview
- Definite retardation during the interview
- Marked difficulty in conducting the interview
- Complete stupor

These are 3 of the 17 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

depression

This clinician-administered measure is used to quantify the severity of depressive symptoms during a structured clinical interview. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) supports systematic assessment at baseline and can be used to monitor symptom change over the course of treatment.

The scale includes 17 items and is typically completed in about 4 minutes. Items sample core affective and somatic features commonly associated with depression, with ratings based on the clinician’s interview and observed presentation.

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) was developed by Max Hamilton and is widely used in clinical and research settings; interpretation should consider the patient’s clinical context and the evaluator’s training and consistency in scoring.

Author: Max Hamilton

Literature: Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Psychological Corporation. 1996.; Frank, E., Prien, R. F., Jarrett, R. B., Keller, M. B., Kupfer, D. J., Lavori, P. W., Rush, A. J., & Weissman, M. M. Conceptualization and rationale for consensus definitions of terms in major depressive disorder: Remission, recovery, relapse, and recurrence. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1991.; Hamilton, M. Development of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 1967.