Implicit memory for depression-relevant information was examined in no
n-clinical subjects with high versus low levels of dysphoria (Experime
nt 1), and in subjects who met DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for depre
ssion versus normal controls (Experiment 2). The implicit memory test
was a primed lexical decision task, with depression-relevant and neutr
al words, and suprathreshold and subthreshold primes. In Experiment 1,
dysphoric subjects showed greater subthreshold priming of depression
words than non-dysphoric subjects. In Experiment 2, clinically depress
ed individuals showed greater subthreshold and suprathreshold priming
of depression words than normal non-depressed controls. The results co
nfirmed those from previous studies using the primed lexical decision
task to investigate implicit memory for negative information in depres
sion (Bradley, Mogg & Williams, 1994, Behaviour Research and Therapy,
32, 65-78; Bradley, Mogg & Williams, 1995, Behaviour Research and Ther
apy, 33, 755-770). Implications for recent cognitive models of depress
ion are discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd