Objective : This study examined whether major depressive disorder patients with anxiety traits displayed abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetries. Methods : Resting EEG was recorded in 11 outpatients with major depressive disorder (6 of whom had a high anxiety trait while 5 exhibited a low anxiety trait) and 6 controls. Results : In contrast to the controls, within the major depressive disorder patient group, comorbid anxiety disorder showed alpha asymmetry indicative of less activation over right than over left temporal sites. Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder but no anxiety disorder showed a reduced temporal alpha asymmetry, supporting the potential importance of evaluating anxiety in studies of regional brain activation, in depressed patients. Conclusion : These findings suggest that anxiety is associated with brain hypoactivation, especially with right temporal hypoactivation.