Past depression and gender interact to influence emotional reactivity to daily life stress

Women present more often with emotional problems than men.

“women present more often with emotional problems than men, e.g. see [21]”

Women are more emotionally reactive than men.

“it has long been recognized that women are more emotionally reactive than men, e.g., see [21].”

Women and remitted patients showed worse mood and higher emotional reactivity in response to daily stressors.

“they showed worse mood and higher emotional reactivity in response to daily stressors”

Women and remitted patients evaluated daily events as more negative than men.

“women and remitted patients evaluated daily events as more negative than men”

At least some MDD patients in remission continue to experience relatively high current levels of negative affect and stress even when they no longer meet diagnostic criteria for a current major depressive episode.

“from these studies it appears that at least some patients continue to experience relatively high current levels of NA and stress even when they no longer meet diagnostic criteria for a current major depressive episode.”

ESM/EMA studies in remitted MDD patients have identified chronic high levels of negative affect and stress as residual symptoms that may over time contribute to relapse.

“In summary, ESM/EMA studies in remitted MDD patients have identi fi ed various residual symptoms that may over time contribute to relapse: lingering complaints about physical symptoms and a poor quality of life (Barge-Schaapveld & Nicolson, 2002) chronic high levels of NA and stress (Husky et al., 2009; Knowles et al., 2007), and perhaps a low motivation to engage in physical activity (Wichers”

Male patients in remission from MDD experienced more depressed mood following stressful events than male controls, whereas there was no such difference between female remitted patients and female controls.

“they found that male patients in remission from MDD experienced more depressed mood following stressful events than male controls, whereas there was no such difference between female remitted patients and female controls.”

MDD patients in remission may appear similar to controls at a global level of functioning, but ESM/EMA can still reveal subtle abnormalities that could potentially contribute to future relapse.

“The data from BargeSchaapveld and Nicolson (2002) and Husky et al. (2009) suggest that while MDD patients in remission may appear similar to controls at a global level of functioning, ESM/EMA can still reveal subtle abnormalities that could potentially contribute to future relapse.”