This paper investigates the reliability and validity of a Spanish version of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (17-item version) which has good concurrent (r = 0.82) and content (average frequency = 62%) validity. Inter-rater reliability (r = 0.99), split-half reliability (r = 0.89) and alpha reliability (r = 0.72) are acceptable. A Factor Analysis identified five factors accounting for 56% of total variance.