Objective        To investigate the gender differences in counterfactual thinking (CFT) produced by individuals with different depression states.       Methods        Totally 232 undergraduates from a university in Chongqing were surveyed by Beck depression inventory (BDI)

self-rating depression scale (SDS) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD). Then a total of 60 individuals with normal mental status (normal control) and 60 ones of depressive symptom (depressive symptom group) were recruited according to t

he results of the surveys. Another 60 depressed patients (depressed group) from psychiatric clinic of 2 hospitals in Chongqing were also enrolled. There were 30 males and 30 females in each group. No significant difference in baseline information was found among the 3 groups. The individuals of 3 groups were induced to produce spontaneous counterfactual thinking (SCFT) after recalling a negative event and induced counterfactual thinking (ICFT) after reading a story about a traffic event

then the individuals were demanded to complete the counterfactual inference test (CIT). The results produced by 180 testees were analyzed with the software SPSS 18.0.       Results        There were significantly more females producing CFT than males in the depressive symptom group (

P

<

0.05). The rationality of CFT was reduced with the depression states becoming worse. There was no obvious difference in rationality of CFT produced by different genders (

P

>0.05). The scores of CIT was decreased with the severity of depression. No significant gender difference was found on the scores (

P

>0.05).       Conclusion      Depression states are negatively proportional to the rationality of CFT and cued CIT. There are significantly more females than males who producing CFT in those individuals having depressive symptom after negative stimulation.