Elsevier

Journal of Affective Disorders

Volume 14, Issue 1, January–February 1988, Pages 61-68
Journal of Affective Disorders

The Hamilton Anxiety Scale: reliability, validity and sensitivity to change in anxiety and depressive disorders

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(88)90072-9Get rights and content

Abstract

The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) was tested for reliability and validity in two different samples, one sample (n=97) defined by anxiety disorders, the other sample (n=101) defined by depressive disorders. The reliability and the concurrent validity of the HAM-A and its subscales proved to be sufficient. Internal validity tested by latent structure analysis was insufficient. The major problems with the HAM-A are that (1) anxiolytic and antidepressant effects cannot be clearly distinguished; (2) the subscale of somatic anxiety is strongly related to somatic side effects. The applicability of the HAM-A in anxiolytic treatment studies is therefore limited. More specific anxiety scales are needed.

References (18)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (601)

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text