Blunted reward responsiveness in remitted depression.
Major depressive disorder has been associated with blunted responsiveness to rewards, but inconsistencies exist whether such abnormalities persist after complete remission. To address this issue, across two independent studies, 47 adults with remitted major depressive disorder (rMDD) and 37 healthy controls completed a Probabilistic Reward Task, which used a differential reinforcement schedule of social or monetary feedback to examine reward responsiveness (i.e., ability to modulate behavior as a function of reinforcement history). Relative to controls, adults with rMDD showed blunted reward responsiveness. Importantly, a history of depression predicted reduced reward learning above and beyond residual depressive (including anhedonic) symptoms and perceived stress. Findings indicate that blunted reward responsiveness endures even when adults are in remission and might be a trait-related abnormality in MDD. More research is warranted to investigate if blunted reward responsiveness may predict future depressive episodes and whether targeting reward-related deficits may prevent the re-occurrence of the disorder.
McLean Hospital & Harvard Medical School, USA. Electronic address: ppechtel@mclean.harvard.edu.
Pia
P
Pechtel
Sunny J
SJ
Dutra
Elena L
EL
Goetz
Diego A
DA
Pizzagalli
D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011336:Probability; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012201:Reward; D055815:Young Adult
Major depressive disorder; Positive reinforcement; Reward