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Poster 1578278

Qualitative Study to Assess the Patient Perspective on Anhedonia Symptoms and Impacts in Major Depressive Disorder

Heather M.. Rozjabek, PhD

Psych Congress 2023
This work was sponsored by Janssen Global Services, LLC Background: Anhedonia, loss of interest or enjoyment in pleasurable activities/experiences, is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and a strong risk factor for more severe depression and poorer outcomes. Anhedonia has been conceptualized as a reward processing model with deficits in facets of interest/desire, anticipation, motivation, effort, consummatory pleasure, and feedback integration. Since anhedonia is a personal, subjective experience, it should be assessed using fit-for-purpose patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. The aim of this study was to understand the patient experience of anhedonia to determine suitability for PRO measurement. Methods: Patients from the US with a clinician-confirmed diagnosis of MDD and anhedonia participated in qualitative semi-structured, telephone interviews. Patients’ experiences of depression and anhedonia, including anhedonia facets and impacts, were explored. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic techniques. Results: 15 interviewees (mean age 52.7 years, 67% female, 53% white) spontaneously reported experiences of anhedonia; the most commonly experienced anhedonia facet was lack of motivation. Patients reported deficits in all facets – interest, motivation, effort, consummatory pleasure, reward processing – to varying degrees. Social activities (n=13), daily activities (n=11), sensory experiences (n=10), hobbies (n=9), work (n=9), family (n=8), food/drink (n=3), and romantic relationships (n=3) were impacted by anhedonia. Conceptual saturation was achieved, suggesting key anhedonia facets and impacts were identified. Conclusion: The patient experience of anhedonia is complex and comprises deficits across all facets, with direct impacts on patients’ daily lives. Future MDD studies should comprehensively assess anhedonia with fit-for-purpose PRO measures whose content validity can be informed by this study.

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