ASCENDING-DESCENDING THRESHOLD DIFFERENCE AND INTERNAL SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT IN CFF MEASUREMENTS OF DEPRESSED-PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT

The purpose of this study was to measure, using the method of limits, the ascending-descending threshold difference, DELTA = f(a) - f(d), in subjects with major depression. 28 patients were given two sessions, one before treatment and the other after recovery. Mean values of DELT A measured in the second session were significantly smaller than those scored before treatment. The two sets of values were positively corre lated. The ascending-descending threshold difference was suggested pre viously as likely related to the internal subjective judgment of subje cts, The present results are consistent with the hypothesis of a more conservative response criterion in depressed patients before than afte r clinical improvement.