U. S. researchers have found that people who screen for depression appear to eat more chocolate than those who don't screen positively for depression.

Chocolate and mood among 931 women and men not on antidepressants were examined by Dr. Natalie Rose of University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues. Participants reported how much chocolate they ate and filled out food frequency questionnaires, while their moods were assessed using a depression scale.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the study found those who screened for possible depression consumed an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month, compared with 5.4 servings per month among those not screening positive.

However, those who screened for probable major depression consumed almost 12 servings of chocolate per month.

It was further reported that Rose speculated depression could stimulate chocolate cravings and some may eat chocolate to improve mood or depression may stimulate chocolate cravings for unrelated reasons, or it may contribute to depressed mood. (With Inputs from Agencies)