Correlation between the Adi Self Rating Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale and Clinical Assessment of Depression

In all clinical and research work, it is important not only to have uniform diagnostic criteria but also some means of objectively quantifying the presence and severity of the illness being studied. For this purpose, a number of ra t ing scales have been devised for depressive disorders, probably the single most commonly used one being the Hamilton Ra t ing Scale (Hamil ton, 1960). The total score on this scale thus reflects the severity of depression— the maximum possible score is 52 but in practice, few patients score above 35.