Hamilton

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Hamilton (medical term)

Hamilton (pronounced: /ˈhæmɪltən/) is a term used in the medical field, particularly in the area of psychiatry. It is most commonly associated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), also known as the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) or the HAM-D.

Etymology

The term "Hamilton" in this context is named after its creator, Max Hamilton, a British psychiatrist who first published the scale in 1960.

Definition

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is a multiple-item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression, and as a guide to evaluate recovery. This scale is widely used in the field of psychiatry for both research and clinical purposes.

Related Terms

  • Depression: A common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
  • Psychiatry: The branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
  • Rating Scale: A scale that measures the degree or severity of an individual's symptoms, behaviors, or characteristics.
  • Max Hamilton: A British psychiatrist known for developing the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Usage

The Hamilton scale is used by mental health professionals to assess the severity of depression in patients who have already been diagnosed with this condition. It is not designed to be a diagnostic tool, but rather a means to measure the severity of depressive symptoms.

See Also

External links

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