Profile of discrete emotions in affective disorders in older primary care patients.
OBJECTIVE
This research examined whether the frequencies of specific emotions are associated with major and minor depression in older primary care patients.


METHODS
Older primary care patients (N = 146), prescreened with a depression questionnaire, completed a diagnostic interview and an emotions questionnaire.


RESULTS
Controlling for age, sex, and other psychiatric and medical illnesses, major depressives differed from nondepressed controls in nine emotions; minor depressives differed from controls in four emotions. Major depressives differed from the controls more in sadness, joy, and interest--but not anger, fear, or guilt--than in comparison sets of emotions. Minor depressives differed from the controls more in sadness and inner-directed hostility--but not guilt, anger, fear, joy, or interest--than in comparison sets of emotions.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequencies of discrete emotions are differentially associated with major and minor depression; future research is needed to determine their specific diagnostic and treatment implications.
Seidlitz
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, USA. Larry_Seidlitz@hotmail.com
Lyness
J M
JM
Conwell
Y
Y
Duberstein
P R
PR
Cox
C
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care