Hamilton Anxiety Scale is an Excellent Benchmark for Rating Anxiety Levels

Hamilton Anxiety Scale - Questionnaire

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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