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This self-assessment Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) , was originally developed by Hamilton M. . TraitProfiler provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only.

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

Background

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a clinician-rated psychological assessment used to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms.

The assessment looks at emotional anxiety, physical tension, fears, sleep problems, concentration difficulties, depressed mood, and physical symptoms related to anxiety.

The HAM-A was developed by Max Hamilton and is one of the most widely used anxiety rating scales in clinical and research settings.

The questionnaire recognizes that anxiety affects both emotional and physical functioning, including mood, sleep, concentration, muscles, breathing, digestion, and autonomic nervous system activity.

Higher scores may suggest stronger anxiety symptoms, physical tension, emotional distress, or significant anxiety-related impairment.

Procedure

You will be presented with 14 symptom areas related to anxiety and emotional functioning.

Read each item carefully and choose the response that best describes the severity of the symptom.

Please answer honestly according to your recent experiences and symptoms.

Participation

This assessment is intended for adults and older adolescents who are able to understand and report symptoms related to anxiety and emotional well-being.

Participation is voluntary. Responses are anonymous and intended for educational, self-awareness, and research-related purposes only.

Higher scores may reflect stronger anxiety symptoms, emotional distress, physical tension, or anxiety-related daily functioning difficulties.

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), a digitally adapted 14- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Question 1 of 14 Anxious Mood

Worries, anticipation of the worst, fearful anticipation, irritability.


Question 2 of 14 Tension

Feelings of tension, fatigability, startle response, moved to tears easily, trembling, feelings of restlessness, inability to relax.


Question 3 of 14 Fears

Of dark, of strangers, of being left alone, of animals, of traffic, of crowds.


Question 4 of 14 Insomnia

Difficulty in falling asleep, broken sleep, unsatisfying sleep and fatigue on waking, dreams, nightmares, night terrors.


Question 5 of 14 Cognitive Difficulties

Difficulty in concentration, poor memory.


Question 6 of 14 Depressed Mood

Loss of interest, lack of pleasure in hobbies, depression, early waking, diurnal swing.


Question 7 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Pains and aches, twitching, stiffness, myoclonic jerks, grinding of teeth, unsteady voice, increased muscular tone.


Question 8 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Tinnitus, blurring of vision, hot and cold flushes, feelings of weakness, pricking sensation.


Question 9 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Tachycardia, palpitations, pain in chest, throbbing of vessels, fainting feelings, missing beat.


Question 10 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Pressure or constriction in chest, choking feelings, sighing, dyspnea.


Question 11 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Difficulty in swallowing, wind abdominal pain, burning sensations, abdominal fullness, nausea, vomiting, borborygmi, looseness of bowels, loss of weight, constipation.


Question 12 of 14 Somatic Symptoms

Frequency of micturition, urgency of micturition, amenorrhea, menorrhagia, development of rigidity, premature ejaculation, loss of libido, impotence.


Question 13 of 14 Autonomic Symptoms

Dry mouth, flushing, pallor, tendency to sweat, giddiness, tension headache, raising of hair.


Question 14 of 14 Behavioral Anxiety Signs

Fidgeting, restlessness or pacing, tremor of hands, furrowed brow, strained face, sighing or rapid respiration, facial pallor, swallowing, etc.




Psychometric Norms

2
Participants
60%
Community Mean
11.5%
Sample SD
71%
Highest Observed Score
48%
Lowest Observed Score
2026–2026
Collection Period

Current normative data for theCurrent normative data for the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) are derived from 2 anonymous participant responses collected through TraitProfiler between 2026 and 2026. All response data are collected anonymously and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes.

Sources
  1. Hamilton M. "The Assessment of Anxiety States by Rating." British Journal of Medical Psychology (1959).