Validation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 7 items (HAMD-7) among non-clinical and clinical samples of Lebanese adults.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic HAMD-7 scale are satisfactory, warranting its use clinically and in research. This scale seems highly efficient for ruling out depression; however, those with positive scores need a referral to a mental health professional for deeper evaluation. HAMD-7 might be self-administered by non-clinical subjects. Future studies are recommended to additionally confirm our results.