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Recent accounts of depression propose a central role for increased self-focus in the onset and maintenance of depression. The present study investigated whether there might also be a converse effect of depressed mood increasing self-focus. A state measure of self-focused attention was administered to normal subjects before and after induction of depressed or happy mood. Compared to happy subjects, depressed subjects showed more negative and less positive self-focus. Positive and negative external focus were unaffected by mood. A reciprocally reinforcing relationship between depressed mood and negative self-focus may be important in onset and maintenance of depression.
Carr et al. (Sun,) studied this question.