Effects of Depressed Mood on Verbal Memory Performance Versus Self-Reports of Cognitive Difficulties

Abstract

This 2-part study examined the effects of self-reported depressed mood on complaints of cognitive difficulties versus actual performance on tasks assessing verbal memory and intellectual functioning. In the first part of the study, 103 college students provided self-reports of their cognitive difficulties and level of depression by completing the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Postconcussion Syndrome Checklist, and Beck Depression Inventory-IA (BDI-IA). Forty eight respondents who obtained BDI-IA scores of less than 9 or greater than 14 participated in the second part of the study. They were again asked to provide self-reports of their level of depression by completing the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and were also tested on their verbal memory and intellectual abilities. Parallel forms reliability of the BDI-IA and the BDI-II was r = .66. Severity of depression was not associated with actual verbal memory or intellectual performance, but was significantly associated with self-reports of cognitive difficulties. The results confirm past findings that individuals who are depressed report more cognitive problems than are actually present. This study also presented descriptive data on college students' performance on the recently published Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence.