Empathy and reactive depression.

Empathy and reactive depression were investigated with 53 women, from 21 to 53 years of age, who worked or planned to work as nurses, counselors, or social workers. Empathy was measured using the Mehrabian and Epstein Questionnaire Measure of Empathic Tendency. The adapted Zung Self-rating Depression Scale was used to measure Depressive Symptomatology, and Paykel's Scale for Life Events was used to identify stressful events. A narrative questionnaire elicited additional information to assess stressful events and to screen clinically for endogenous depression. Reactive Depression scores were obtained using a best fit line to correct Depressive Symptomatology for severity of Life Events. A significant modest positive correlation of 39 was found between scores on Empathy and Reactive Depression.