Diagnostic differences in social anhedonia: a longitudinal study of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.
This study examined the hypothesis that, in schizophrenia, elevated trait social anhedonia (SA) is a stable individual difference, whereas in depression, increased SA is a reflection of a current clinical state that will diminish with recovery. Differences in trait Negative Affect (NA) and Positive Affect (PA) were also examined. Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 55) and depression (n = 34) were evaluated at baseline during hospitalization and compared with nonpsychiatric control participants (n = 41). Participants were assessed again at a 1-year follow-up. At baseline, compared with control participants, individuals with schizophrenia and depression were both characterized by elevated SA, greater NA, and lower PA. In schizophrenic individuals, elevated SA remained stable over the follow-up. However, in recovered depressed patients, SA declined over the follow-up period. Group differences remained in NA and PA over the 1-year follow-up. These results support the view that elevated SA is enduring in schizophrenia but that elevated SA is transiently related to clinical status in depression.
Blanchard
J J
JJ
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742-4411,  USA. jblanchard@psyc.umd.edu
Horan
W P
WP
Brown
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012951:Socialization; D013694:Temperament; D016896:Treatment Outcome