Israeli scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that people diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) were more frequently and more easily distracted by positive experiences than healthy people. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science (JPCS).
MDD is characterized by persistent and intense sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in any activity. People with major depressive disorder often experience significant impairments in daily life; This affects work, relationships and overall well-being.
In two studies, the team tried to find out how healthy people and people with depression react to pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.
A total of approximately 200 people participated in the two experiments, half of whom were diagnosed with MDD and the other half without mental disorders and served as a control group.
Subjects had to analyze their reactions to pleasant or unpleasant memories, choosing one of the strategies (directing thoughts to another topic or thinking about what happened).
The results showed that people with depression were more likely to withdraw from positive experiences, weakening their impact, and therefore more likely to experience sadness, sadness, and anxiety in daily life. It turns out that depression does not affect the motivation to experience good emotions, but its effect does not last long.
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