A protocol for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: Item scoring rules, Rater training, and outcome accuracy with data on its application in a clinical trial.

•We share a comprehensive protocol for the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.•The protocol includes item scoring rules and rater training procedures.•We present an algorithm to detect inaccurate interviews and resolve rater discrepancies.•This protocol was applied in a longitudinal clinical trial of 177 depressed patients.•These methods yielded high inter-rater reliably and few between-rater discrepancies.