title: Speech rate as a measure of short-term variation in depression.
abstract: Experimental investigation of the state of depression is at present hindered by the lack of simple, objective, repeatable measures of components of the state. Covariation between self-report measures of affect and simple measure of speech rate was investigated in a series of studies of both clinical and normal subjects, using single-case and group designs. Slowing of speech was significantly and substantially correlated with self-reports of increased unpleasant affect in certain situations. This suggests that the speech measure may usefully reflect a behavioural component of a state of retarded-type depression.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014705:Verbal Behavior