Acute stress reduces reward responsiveness: implications for depression.
BACKGROUND
Stress, one of the strongest risk factors for depression, has been linked to "anhedonic" behavior and dysfunctional reward-related neural circuitry in preclinical models.


METHODS
To test if acute stress reduces reward responsiveness (i.e., the ability to modulate behavior as a function of past reward), a signal-detection task coupled with a differential reinforcement schedule was utilized. Eighty female participants completed the task under both a stress condition, either threat-of-shock (n = 38) or negative performance feedback (n = 42), and a no-stress condition.


RESULTS
Stress increased negative affect and anxiety. As hypothesized based on preclinical findings, stress, particularly the threat-of-shock condition, impaired reward responsiveness. Regression analyses indicate that self-report measures of anhedonia predicted stress-induced hedonic deficits even after controlling for anxiety symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that acute stress reduces reward responsiveness, particularly in individuals with anhedonic symptoms. Stress-induced hedonic deficit is a promising candidate mechanism linking stressful experiences to depression.
Bogdan
Ryan
R
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Pizzagalli
Diego A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D015982:Bias; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012201:Reward; D012307:Risk Factors; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology