Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A)

Clinician-rated scale tracking the severity of anxiety symptoms across 14 domains.

Anxious mood (worry, apprehension, irritability)

Tension (startle, fatigability, restlessness, trembling)

Fears (of dark, strangers, crowds, animals, traffic)

Insomnia (difficulty falling/staying asleep, nightmares)

Cognitive symptoms (poor concentration, memory complaints)

Depressed mood

Somatic - muscular (aches, twitching, stiffness)

Somatic - sensory (tinnitus, blurred vision, tingling)

Cardiovascular symptoms (palpitations, chest pain)

Respiratory symptoms (chest pressure, choking sensation)

Gastrointestinal symptoms (dyspepsia, nausea, cramps)

Genitourinary symptoms (frequency, urgency, loss of libido)

Autonomic symptoms (dry mouth, sweating, flushing)

Behaviour at interview (fidgeting, tremor, tense facies)

Result0 points

Mild anxiety (score range 0-56).

Tracking the severity of anxiety symptoms over time, commonly used as an outcome measure in anxiety treatment trials.

Sum of 14 domains, each rated 0 (none) to 4 (very severe) by the clinician. Range 0-56.

Rates overall anxiety severity, not a specific anxiety disorder diagnosis; commonly used interpretive bands (<=17 mild, 18-24 mild to moderate, >=25 moderate to severe) are approximate and not part of the original 1959 publication.