Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of attentional blink (AB) in the patients with depression.MethodsThirty-five antidepressant-free, non-elderly patients with depression diagnosed according to CCMD-Ⅲ as well as thirty-five health control subjects matched for education, age and sex were tested with the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm.ResultsAll cases of two groups showed an AB, and AB for depressive participants was larger and longer.ConclusionThe patients with depression have attentional impairments.

Key words: depression, attentional blink, rapid serial visual presentation