The HDRS is typically administered by a healthcare professional, which can include trained nurses, psychologists, or psychiatrists. The scale consists of 17 to 21 items, depending on the version used. Each item is rated on a scale of 0 to 4 or 0 to 2, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms. The assessment covers various areas such as mood, guilt, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, weight loss, and somatic symptoms.
