The Hamilton Anxiety Scale or HAM-A diagnostic tool was developed in 1959 by Max Hamilton and it was the first rating scale for diagnosing anxiety as a condition. It is still widely in use today. It uses a simple four-point rating scale to evaluate patient responses to 43 questions grouped into 14 anxiety-related categories.
On a scale of 0 to 4, with 0 being "there is no problem" and 4 being "the situation is disabling to you", the scale asks, "How do you rate yourself for each of the following symptoms of anxiety?"
Symptom Rating Scale (0 = No Problem, 4 = Disabling in my life)
Anxious Mood
1. Worries _____
2. Anticipates worst _____
Tension
3. Startles _____
4. Cries easily _____
5. Restless _____
6. Trembling _____
Fears
7. Fear of the dark _____
8. Fear of strangers _____
9. Fear of being alone _____
10. Fear of animals _____
Insomnia
11. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep _____
12. Difficulty with nightmares _____
Intellectual
13. Poor concentration _____
14. Memory impairment _____
Depressed Mood
15. Decreased interest in activities _____
16. Anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) _____
17. Insomnia (inability to get restful sleep) _____
Somatic Complaints: Muscular
18. Muscle aches or pains _____
19. Bruxism (clenching and grinding teeth) _____
Somatic Complaints: Sensory
20. Tinnitus (ringing in ears) _____
21. Blurred vision _____
Cardiovascular Symptoms
22. Tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) _____
23. Palpitations (noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat) _____
24. Chest pain _____
25. Sensation of feeling faint _____
Respiratory Symptoms
26. Chest pressure _____
27. Choking sensation _____
28. Shortness of Breath _____
Gastrointestinal symptoms
29. Dysphagia (difficult or painful swallowing) _____
30. Nausea or Vomiting _____
31. Constipation _____
32. Weight loss _____
33. Abdominal fullness _____
Genitourinary symptoms
34. Urinary frequency or urgency _____
35. Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) _____
36. Impotence (inability to achieve an erection) _____
Autonomic Symptoms
37. Dry mouth _____
38. Flushing _____
39. Pallor _____
40. Sweating _____
How Did You Act As You Completed This Questionnaire
41. Fidgety _____
42. Had Tremors _____
43. Paced Around _____
Once you have completed the Hamilton Anxiety Scale questionnaire, total up your score.
0-17: Normal
18-24: Mild anxiety
25-29: Moderate anxiety
30 +: Severe anxiety
No matter your score, if you feel any of the symptoms outlined on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, there is help available. I strongly recommend you try Gary Craig's Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT to get rid of anxiety and start taking back control of your health and your life today. You can also use Bach Flower Remedies and exercise as excellent tools to help you conquer stress, depression and anxiety for life. Gone are the days when you had to rely on drug therapy, with multiple side effects, to deal with these debilitating condition. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale can easily be your first step in understanding the challenges you face in your life.
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