Self-Referent Versus Other-Referent Information Processing in Dysphoric,Clinically Depressed,and Remitted Depressed Subjects

Abstract

Two studies examined the processing of responses directed toward the self versus others by dysphoric, clinically depressed, and remitted depressed subjects. Study 1 showed that dysphoric subjects found positive and negative responses toward the self equally informative. Nondysphoric subjects found positive responses toward the self more informative than negative responses. When responses were directed toward others, dysphoric subjects found positive responses more informative than negative responses. In contrast, nondysphoric subjects found positive and negative responses directed toward others equally informative. Study 2 replicated these results with clinically depressed versus nondysphoric subjects. Study 2 also showed that remitted depressed subjects found positive responses more informative than negative responses, regardless of whether they were directed toward the self or toward others. Results suggest that positive and negative constructs are differentially accessible for dysphoric, clinically depressed, remitted depressed, and nondysphoric subjects when processing information directed toward the self versus others.