Larry Christensen

Comparison of nutrient intake among depressed and nondepressed individuals.

OBJECTIVE The study investigated the nutrient intake of depressed and nondepressed subjects. METHOD Twenty-nine depressed subjects and a matched group of nondepressed subjects completed a 3-day food record. RESULTS Results revealed that depressed and nondepressed groups consume similar amounts of all nutrients except protein and carbohydrates. Nondepressed subjects consume more protein and depressed subjects consume more carbohydrates. The increase in carbohydrate consumption comes primarily from an increase in sucrose consumption. DISCUSSION The increased carbohydrate consumption is consistent with the carbohydrate cravings characteristic of the depressed and may relate to the development or maintenance of depression.

The effect of carbohydrates on affect

This report reviews studies addressing the issue of the effect that carbohydrates have on affective behavior. The review begins with an overview of the physiologic and psychological mechanisms that have been proposed to explain a carbohydrate-induced behavioral effect. Attention is then devoted to studies that have investigated the mood-altering effect of carbohydrates on normal individuals, depressed individuals, obese individuals, and individuals with seasonal affective disorder and premenstrual syndrome. Throughout the report it is apparent that carbohydrate consumption is relevant for individuals experiencing symptoms of emotional distress, particularly symptoms indicative of depression, and that the individuals with depressive symptoms show a preference for sweet simple carbohydrates. Enduring questions permeating the diet-behavior field are delineated and future research directions are suggested.

Changing Food Preference as a Function of Mood

The authors investigated the effect of mood on food selection. Participants (N = 98) indicated the likelihood of general eating and the likelihood of eating specific foods after reading and projecting themselves onto the events and emotions described in a sad and a happy vignette. Both men and women believed they were more likely to consume food following a happy versus a sad event, and men believed they were significantly more likely to eat than did women. However, the type of food men and women believed they would consume interacted with the type of event experienced. Vegetarian snack foods were more likely to be consumed following a happy versus a sad event, with men more likely to eat snack foods. Men did not significantly change in likelihood of consuming sweet foods as their mood changed. However, women believed they were more likely to consume sweet foods following a sad event. The authors discuss the results in terms of a self-medication hypothesis and the effect of carbohydrates on central serotonin and endogenous opioids. Overall, results demonstrated that mood influences belief in the likelihood of food selection.

Distinguishing Depressed from Nondepressed Individuals Using Energy and Psychosocial Variables.

This study was conducted to determine whether energy level can be used to distinguish depressed from nondepressed individuals and to assess the relative importance of energy level and psychosocial variables in making this distinction. Fifty-seven participants experiencing a current episode of major depression and a matched sample of nondepressed participants completed a self-report questionnaire containing measures of energy level and psychosocial variables. Discriminant analysis revealed that energy level correctly classified 93% as depressed or nondepressed, whereas psychosocial variables correctly classified 87%. Combining the energy and psychosocial variables did not increase the accuracy of classification over that achieved by using only the energy measures. The measure of exhaustion provided the greatest relative contribution to the overall discriminant function.

Explaining Fibrofog: Carbohydrate Cravings Explain More Than Pain and Negative Mood Alone

Abstract Objective: The purpose of the preliminary study was to identify the contributions of various food cravings with the cognitive impairment in fibromyalgia [FMS] known as “Fibrofog”. Methods: Forty-seven, non-diabetic female participants aged 19 and older with FMS completed the Mental Clutter Scale, the Food Craving Inventory, the Profile of Mood States and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised. Results: Carbohydrate cravings were found to be a unique correlate of Fibrofog compared to other specific cravings. Results from hierarchal models revealed that carbohydrate cravings independently predicted Fibrofog, albeit modestly, over and above the symptoms of physical impact and mood (even after controlling for BMI). Conclusions: Along with the primary roles of FMS symptom clusters, carbohydrate cravings play a unique role in the cognitive impairment.

FLIRTING AND ENERGETIC AROUSAL

76 college students were administered a self-reported energy scale and a flirtation inventory. Analysis indicated a significant relationship such that low scores on energy level were associated with low flirtation related activities, as well as low self-ratings on attractiveness and other variables.