Max Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Professor Max Hamilton was born on 9 February 1912 at Offenbach am Main, Germany. In 1915, his family (named Himmelschein) emigrated to England. He was educated at the Foundation School in Cowper Street and went on to study medicine at University College Hospital
, London. He served from 1939 to 1946 in the Royal Air Force
, as a medical officer. Hamilton trained as a psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital
, London.
His appointment was not renewed by Sir Aubrey Lewis
and he had to return to University College Hospital where he worked under Sir Cyril Burt
. The latter recognized Hamilton's mathematical talent and advised hin to train in medical statistics. In the event, Hamilton became an innovative statistician and by the late 1940s (years before Kayser in the USA), he had already suggested that factors (in factor analysis
) should be rotated. He went on to work under Dennis Hill
at King's College Hospital and in 1953, was appointed lecturer in psychiatry at the University of Leeds
where few years later he constructed his celebrated "Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
".
After working as a visiting scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health
, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, he became a member of the external staff of the Medical Research Council
and in 1963 succeeded G. R. Hargreaves in the Leeds Chair of Psychiatry.
Hamilton was one of the first to introduce psychometrics
into psychiatry
and to convince a then rather incredulous profession that psychiatric research had to be based on measurement and statistical analysis. He was the first President of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
and one of the few psychiatrists Presidents of the British Psychological Society
. In 1980 he was awarded the coveted Paul Hoch prize for distinguished psychiatric research.
He died in August 1988, just two months before he was due to deliver the Maudsley Lecture. He was survived by his wife, Doreen, their son and two daughters, and two sons from his first marriage. As a hobby he photographed flowers, specially narcissi, and to combat his chronic insomnia he loved to dragoon some of his brighter lecturers to spend the night with him writing statistical formulae on an old school blackboard.
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
, London. He served from 1939 to 1946 in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, as a medical officer. Hamilton trained as a psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital
Maudsley Hospital
The Maudsley Hospital is a British psychiatric hospital in South London. The Maudsley is the largest mental health training institution in the country...
, London.
His appointment was not renewed by Sir Aubrey Lewis
Aubrey Lewis
Sir Aubrey Julian Lewis, FRCP, FRCPsych , was the first Professor of Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, and is credited with being a driving force behind the flowering of British psychiatry after World War II as well as raising the profile of the profession worldwide.-Early...
and he had to return to University College Hospital where he worked under Sir Cyril Burt
Cyril Burt
Sir Cyril Lodowic Burt was an English educational psychologist who made contributions to educational psychology and statistics....
. The latter recognized Hamilton's mathematical talent and advised hin to train in medical statistics. In the event, Hamilton became an innovative statistician and by the late 1940s (years before Kayser in the USA), he had already suggested that factors (in factor analysis
Factor analysis
Factor analysis is a statistical method used to describe variability among observed, correlated variables in terms of a potentially lower number of unobserved, uncorrelated variables called factors. In other words, it is possible, for example, that variations in three or four observed variables...
) should be rotated. He went on to work under Dennis Hill
Dennis Hill
Dennis Hill is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City.-Playing career:Hill was born in Willenhall, Staffordshire...
at King's College Hospital and in 1953, was appointed lecturer in psychiatry at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
where few years later he constructed his celebrated "Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , also known as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale or abbreviated to HAM-D, is a multiple choice questionnaire that clinicians may use to rate the severity of a patient's major depression. Max Hamilton originally published the scale in 1960 and reviewed...
".
After working as a visiting scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, he became a member of the external staff of the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
and in 1963 succeeded G. R. Hargreaves in the Leeds Chair of Psychiatry.
Hamilton was one of the first to introduce psychometrics
Psychometrics
Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational measurement...
into psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
and to convince a then rather incredulous profession that psychiatric research had to be based on measurement and statistical analysis. He was the first President of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
and one of the few psychiatrists Presidents of the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
. In 1980 he was awarded the coveted Paul Hoch prize for distinguished psychiatric research.
He died in August 1988, just two months before he was due to deliver the Maudsley Lecture. He was survived by his wife, Doreen, their son and two daughters, and two sons from his first marriage. As a hobby he photographed flowers, specially narcissi, and to combat his chronic insomnia he loved to dragoon some of his brighter lecturers to spend the night with him writing statistical formulae on an old school blackboard.