Self-referent versus other-referent information processing in dysphoric, clinically depressed and remitted depressed subjects

Examined the processing of responses directed toward the self versus others by dysphoric, clinically depressed and remitted depressed Ss. In Exp 1, 30 dysphoric Ss found positive and negative responses toward the self equally informative. 30 nondysphoric Ss found positive responses toward the self more informative. When responses were directed toward others, dysphorics found positive responses more informative than negative responses, while nondysphorics found positive and negative responses directed toward others equally informative. Exp 2 replicated these results with 27 clinically depressed and 27 nondysphoric Ss, showing that remitted depressed Ss found positive responses more informative, regardless of direction to self or others. Results suggest that positive and negative constructs are differentially accessible for these groups.