title: A single sample study of dissociation between expressed and experienced pleasure by gender in mild depression.
abstract: Thirty male and thirty female adult subjects were divided equally into three groups on the basis of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale; mildly depressed (50-63), normal (40-49), and "low normal" (20-39). Observer ratings of positive affect were made during a one and one-half hour laboratory experiment, and self-ratings of pleasurable experience were collected at the end of the experiment. Results showed no significant differences between groups for self-report of experienced pleasure. However, a significant difference between groups was found for observer ratings of positive affect, with the mildly depressed and "low normal" subjects showing a shorter duration and a lower degree of positive affect than the normals. These results partially replicate and extended previous work. Implications for theory, research, and psychotherapy are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001519:Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors