title: Relationship between anhedonia and impulsivity in schizophrenia, major depression and schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anhedonia and impulsivity are prominent symptoms of many psychiatric disorders and may indicate worse prognosis, notably in schizophrenia and major depression. Despite the convergence of negative outcomes from both dimensions, the relationship between anhedonia and impulsivity in psychiatric disorders has been seldom directly assessed. The objective of the present study is to examine the correlations between anhedonia and impulsivity in three diagnostic groups: major depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  121 outpatients (Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt) with major depressive disorder (N=29), schizophrenia (N=59), and schizoaffective disorder (N=33), were assessed and responded to the Beck Depression Inventory, Barrat's Impulsivity Scale-11, and Chapman's Social and Physical Anhedonia Scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical and social anhedonia scores were negatively correlated to impulsivity scores in major depression patients. Conversely, higher scores in physical and social anhedonia predicted higher impulsivity scores in schizophrenia. No correlations between impulsivity and anhedonia were evidenced among schizoaffectives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relationship between self-reported physical and social anhedonia and impulsivity is diagnosis-specific.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Electronic address: mostsfapsy@yahoo.com.
authors: Mostafa
authors: M
authors: Amr
authors: Fernando Madalena
authors: FM
authors: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059445:Anhedonia / Q000502:physiology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
keywords: Anhedonia; Impulsivity; Major depressive disorder; Schizoaffective disorder; Schizophrenia