Gait patterns of depressed patients and normal subjects.

The authors compared the gait patterns of 15 patients with affective disorders with those of 15 normal control subjects. The procedure involved a frame-by-frame analysis of a film of each subject walking at normal speed. Angle measurements were made of the hip and knee at their maximum extension during a single gait cycle (one stride). The results generally support the hypothesis that depressed patients walk with a lifting motion of the leg, whereas normal control subjects propel themselves forward.