Depression as a function of levels of desired and obtained pleasure.

120 paid volunteer adults, equally divided into a depressed group and nondepressed and psychiatric control groups (from scores on the MMPI), were administered the Pleasant Events Schedule. Mean scores of the 3 groups were computed on scales purporting to measure obtained pleasure, activity level, and potential for being reinforced by a wide variety of events. As predicted, the depressed group scored significantly lower on these scales than the control groups, which did not differ significantly from each other. A minor hypothesis, derived from the neoanalytic theory of W. Bonime (1966), that depressed Ss would have higher scores on a scale purporting to measure the level of desired gratification was disconfirmed. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The pleasant events schedule: Studies on reliability, validity, and scale intercorrelation.

The Pleasant Events Schedule is a behavioral self-report inventory of potentially reinforcing events. The test–retest method, involving 181 Ss of various ages and social classes, demonstrated good to excellent stability for the 8 most used scales of the schedule across periods of 1, 2, and 3 mo. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparison with peer and observer ratings. Predictive validity of the test's frequency ratings was studied in relation to subsequent self-monitoring data, while predictive validity of test enjoyability ratings was determined by comparison with subsequent choice behavior. Construct validity was inferred from the results of other research. Adequate validity of all types was found. Scale intercorrelations are also reported, and the question of response bias is addressed. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)