Summary
Response to humor in the form of riddles and jokes was studied in 18 women patients with severe neurotic and psychotic depressions. The patients were observed during and following a four-day series of intravenous drip infusions of 5 per cent glucose in saline; some patients received 500 mg. of nialamide in this infusion in random double-blind distribution. Patients were tested for humor response on each of the four treatment days and at the end of a two-week follow-up period. A psychologist independently administered the MMPI and the Reck Depression Inventory before, immediately following, and two weeks after the termination of, the intravenous phase; her evaluations were used as criteria for validating the humor response. Results offered tentative support for the significance of the humor response as a predictor and evaluator of change in depressed patients. Clinical implications and suggestions for refinement of this new method were discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Flugel, J. C.: Humor and laughter. In: Handbook of Social Psychology. Gardner Lindsey, editor. Addison-Wesley. Reading, Mass. 1954.
Barrett, W. G.: Mark Twain's osteopathic cure. Psychoan. Quart., 22: 539–547, 1953.
Redlich, F. G.; Levine, J., and Sobler, T. P.: A Mirth Response Test; preliminary reprot on a psychodiagnostic technique utilizing dynamics of humor. Am. J. Orthopsychiat., 21: 717–734, 1951.
Levine, J., and Abelson, R.: Humor as a disturbing stimulus. J. Gen. Psychol., 60: 191–200, 1959.
Levine, J., and Redlich, F. C.: Intellectual and emotional factors in the appreciation of humor. J. Gen. Psychol., 62: 25–35, 1960.
Evening Sun, Seven Star Edition, Baltimore, January 9, 1962.
Gottlieb, J. S., and Tourney, G.: The depressive illnesses, their diagnosis and treatment. J. Chron. Dis., 9: 234–248, 1959.
Olson, G. W.: Application of an objective method for measuring the action of “antidepressant” medications. Am. J. Psychiat., 118: 1044–1045, 1962.
Beck, A. T.; Ward, C. H.; Mendelson, M.; Mock, J., and Erbaugh, J.: An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 4: 561–571, 1961.
Nussbaum, K.; Hanlon, T. E.; Wittig, B. A., and Kurland, A. A.: A double-blind study of i.v. nialamide treament in depression. Comprehen. Psychiat. (in press.)
Pollack, B.: Clinical findings in the use of Tofranil in depressive and other psychiatric states. Am. J. Psychiat., 116: 315–317, 1959.
Byrne, D.: Response to humor as a function of drive arousal and psychological defenses. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Stanford University, 1957.
Byrne, D.; Terrill, Q., and McReynolds, P.: Incongruency as a predictor of response to humor. J. Abnor. and Soc. Psychol., 62: 435–438, 1961.
Ullman, L. P., and Lim, D. T.: Case history material as a source of the identification of patterns of response to emotional stimuli in a study of humor. J. Consult. Psychol., 26: 221–225, 1962.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
From the department of medical research, Spring Grove State Hospital, Baltimore 28, Md.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nussbaum, K., Michaux, W.W. Response to humor in depression: A predictor and evaluator of patient change?. Psych Quar 37, 527–539 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01617751
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01617751