Experienced events, represented events and depression

Abstract

SummaryThe growing number of studies on the relationship between life events and depression is indicative of interest in this area. In most studies, a standard impact scores is calculated for experienced events. These standard scores are means for representation of impact as rated by groups of subject-judges. In the present study, depressives and controls were asked to rate the impact of 51 experienced events and “represented” events in a list form derived from standard studies. The findings indicate that 1) Depressives rate experienced events and represented events more negatively than controls; 2) Both depressives and controls rate certain “represented” events more negatively than experienced events. Eleven “represented” events are rated higher than the same experienced events. The results verify our hypothesis: Representation and Reality are two different assessments and one cannot be used to estimate the other. Moreover, the extrapolation to another group of impact scores obtained with controls, although common practice in the literature, is not valid.