Anhedonia Linked With Worse Depression, Indicating Possible Unmet Need

Higher anhedonia scores were significantly associated with greater levels of depression and anxiety in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a poster presentation at Psych Congress 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Researchers noted that this association pointed to a greater “clinical and humanistic burden. These results highlight the need for targeted treatments to help MDD patients with significant anhedonia attain improved clinical, humanistic, and work productivity outcomes,” wrote first author Tiina Drissen, PhD, Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC. 

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Adults with depression, sourced from the 2022 US National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), participated in an online cross-sectional survey and reported on their levels of anhedonia using the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) to gauge severity. Researchers used multivariable analyses to examine the connection between SHAPS scores and health-related outcomes.

In total, 665 adults with MDD completed the survey (mean age=58.4, 78.3% female) with a mean SHAPS score of 25.4 and total overall scores ranging from 14 to 47. Higher SHAPS scores were associated with greater depression severity (r=0.24, p< 0.001) as well as worse mental and physical functioning and health-related quality of life, and greater anxiety levels. Participants also showed greater impairment in both work and non-work activity (p < 0.01).

“There is an unmet need for more targeted treatments for MDD patients with anhedonia that improve patient outcomes,” Dr Drissen concluded. 

Abstract submitted by Cerner Enviza, an Oracle company. 

Reference
Drissen T, et al. Association between anhedonia severity and clinical and humanistic outcomes among US adults with major depressive disorder. Poster presented at Psych Congress; September 6-10, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee.