For some symptoms, it is difficult to elicit enough information from the patient to permit full quantification. Therefore, the higher the score, the more severe the depression. Successful therapy should result in a lower score in subsequent testing. Scores of 30 or higher are more typical of severely depressed patients. Summary In summary, depression is an illness that directly affects 1 in 20 Americans each year, and takes a large toll on the lives of individuals, families, and employers.
Successful treatment begins with accurate diagnosis.
These depression rating instruments can be a useful adjunct to a thorough and empathic patient history, and serve as an aid in assessing the initial depth of a patient's depression and the effect of antidepressant therapy over time. Click here to download the HAM-D Rating scale in PDF format. If you are unable to or do not wish to download Acrobat Reader, but still wish to receive complete Prescribing Information, please click here . This site is intended for US healthcare professionals only. All Rights Reserved.