Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) is a tool used by healthcare providers to assess the severity of a person's depression. It consists of a series of questions that evaluate various symptoms like mood, feelings of guilt, sleep problems, and physical symptoms such as aches and fatigue. Each item is scored to reflect how intense these symptoms are, helping clinicians understand how serious the depression is and monitor changes over time. This helps in planning appropriate treatment and tracking progress during therapy or medication adjustments.