Effects of Three Types of Potentially Biasing Information on Symptom Severity Judgments for Major Depressive Episode

2 experiments examined the effects of potentially biasing information on judgments of symptom severity pertaining to the diagnosis of major depressive episode. In both experiments, psychologists viewed videotapes of two actor-simulated patients responding to questions from a standardized diagnostic interview. In Study 1, an expectancy effect was found for both patients such that prior information about a clear-cut history of depression resulted in lower rated severity of current symptoms. Clear-cut depressive nonverbal behaviour resulted in greater rater severity for symptoms, such as suicide ideation, that should not have been affected. Implications for diagnostic interviewing are discussed. (57 refs.)