A　large　amount　of　research　has　been　conducted　on　the　effects　of　sex　hormones　on　gender　differences　in　patients　with　depression,　yet　research　on　cognitive　differences　between　male　and　female　patients　with　depression　is　insufficient.　This　study　uses　emotion　pictures　to　investigate　the　differences　of　the　emotional　working　memory　ability　and　emotional　experience　in　male　and　female　patients　with　depression.　Despite　identifying　that　the　working　memory　of　patients　with　depression　is　impaired,　our　study　found　no　significant　gender　differences　in　emotional　working　memory.　Moreover,　the　research　results　revealed　that　memory　effects　of　mood　congruence　are　produced　in　both　men　and　women,　which　may　explain　why　the　depression　state　can　be　maintained.　Furthermore,　female　patients　have　more　emotional　experiences　than　male　patients,　which　is　particularly　significant　in　terms　of　negative　emotional　experiences.　This　result　provides　cognitive　evidence　to　explain　why　women　suffer　from　longer　terms　of　depression,　are　more　susceptible　to　relapse,　and　can　more　easily　suffer　from　major　depressive　disorder　in　the　future.