Mo' better Velten: A comparison of card and computer versions of the Velten Mood Induction Procedure

A comparison between computer and card versions of the anxiety and depression Velten Mood Induction Procedure (VMIP) was made. Results indicate that the computer version of the anxiety VMIP did not perform as well as its card counter part in inducing the target mood, whereas the computer version of the depression VMIP outperformed its card counterpart. The card version of the anxiety VMIP produced a significant increase in self-report anxiety, while the computer version produced a non-significant increase. The computer version of the depression VMIP produced a significant increase in both self-report depression and the time required to count to 50, while the card version produced a significant increase in self-report depression only. These findings suggest that the computer version of the depression VMIP is a valid alternative to the card version, whereas the computer version of the anxiety VMIP is not.