Characteristics of approach and avoidance behaviors among subthreshold depressed adolescents / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the characteristics of approach and avoidance behaviors among subthreshold depressed adolescents. Methods 27 subthreshold depressed adolescents and 29 healthy con?trol teenagers completed the approach?avoidance task,and the reaction time at approach and avoidance task of the two groups was compared. At the same time,their differences were analyzed between the two groups on the Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System Scale scores. Results ( 1 ) Subthreshold depression group (1208.18±338.92)ms) had significantly longer reaction time than those in healthy control group((1058.40 ±204.22)ms) when approaching happy expression ( t=2.02, P<0.05). (2) Subthreshold depression group (37.33±4.46) had significantly lower behavioral activation system scale scores than those in healthy control group ((39.76±3.75), t=-2.21, P<0.05); and the score of reward responsiveness was marginally signifi?cant lower in subthreshold depression group (12.63±1.67) than that in healthy control group ((13.41± 1.30), t=-1.97, P=0.054). Conclusion To activate the approach behaviors of subthreshold depression adolescents may be helpful for reducing the symptoms of depression.