Hemisphere preference, phobia, and depression

The present study was undertaken in order to examine whether depression and anxiety are related to preference for a right hemisphere mode of thinking. On the basis of a paper-and-pencil test presumably measuring hemisphere preference (Preference Test; Zenhausern, 1978), normal subjects (N = 75) were assigned to a group characterized by a left hemisphere thinking style, a group characterized by a right hemisphere thinking style and a group with mixed tendencies (left and right hemisphere tendencies). Additionally, subjects completed the Fear Questionnaire and the Depression Symptom Inventory. It was found that subjects with a right hemisphere thinking style reported more depressive and fear symptoms than subjects with a left hemisphere thinking style. This finding is in line with theories which assume that the right hemisphere is characterized by a negative, dysphoric emotional tendency.