Unpleasant and pleasant events, and mood.

Abstract

Investigated the relationships between the daily occurrence of aversive events, depressed mood, and the enjoyment of pleasant events in a sample of 21 depressed patients. Participants were assessed pre-, post-, and 1 month after treatment, on the Pleasant Events Schedule, The Unpleasant Events Schedule, MMPI, Beck Depression Inventory and Grinker Interview Checklist. During treatment participants rated their mood and also indicated the occurrence and degree of (un)pleasantness for 80 of their most pleasant and for 80 of their most unpleasant events each day over a 42-day period. Significant associations were found between depressed mood and unpleasant events, and between unpleasant events and the pleasantness of pleasant events. There was also a significant decrease in experienced aversiveness concomitant with clinical improvement.