Mood variability and the intensity of depressive states

Little is known about the relationship between the variability of moods and the tendency to experience depressed mood. The moods of twenty-five student subjects were measured over a period of some 30 days using scales assessing positive affect and negative affect. An index of mood variability was computed. This was correlated with two measures of average level of depression. The results showed a strong correlation between variability of moods and level of depression. High levels of mood variability accompanied high levels of depressive state in this nonclinical sample.