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Sucrose Preference and Novelty-Induced Hypophagia Tests in Rats using an Automated Food Intake Monitoring System

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Chocolate craving when depressed: a personality marker.

Gordon Parker¹, Joanna Crawford

¹Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick 2031, Sydney, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science

|October 2, 2007

Summary

Individuals with depression who crave chocolate may have atypical depression symptoms and neuroticism. Chocolate craving is linked to personality and can help identify specific depression subtypes.

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Area of Science:

Psychiatry
Clinical Psychology
Nutritional Psychiatry

Background:

Depression is a common mental health disorder with various symptom presentations.
Atypical depression is a subtype characterized by specific mood reactivity and vegetative symptoms.
Dietary habits and cravings can be associated with mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between chocolate craving and personality traits in depressed individuals.
To determine if chocolate craving can serve as an indicator for atypical depressive symptoms.
To explore the perceived benefits of chocolate consumption for mood regulation in depression.

Main Methods:

A web-based questionnaire was administered to nearly 3000 individuals diagnosed with clinical depression.
Data collected included information on chocolate craving, personality facets, and depressive symptoms.
Statistical analyses were performed to identify associations between variables.

Main Results:

Approximately 50% of depressed individuals reported craving chocolate, with higher prevalence in women.
Chocolate craving was associated with personality facets of neuroticism.
Chocolate was perceived by respondents as beneficial for managing depression, anxiety, and irritability.
Chocolate craving effectively discriminated individuals with DSM-IV atypical depression symptoms.

Conclusions:

Chocolate craving in depression is linked to neuroticism and specific atypical depressive symptoms.
Assessing chocolate craving may offer a simple method for identifying atypical depression.
Understanding dietary associations can inform holistic approaches to depression management.