title: Anhedonia in depressed patients on treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant--A two-centered study in Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anhedonia is the reduced ability to experience pleasure. It is a core symptom of depression and is particularly difficult to treat. This study aims to compare the level of anhedonia between depressed patients on anti-depressants and healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 depressed patients on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 82 healthy subjects were recruited from the outpatient psychiatric services at two major general hospitals in a cross-sectional study. Subjects were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0.0 or MINI, Beck's Depression Index (BDI), and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). Relevant personal and sociodemographic information were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant association between educational level and SHAPS-M scores (P < 0.01) among the participants. Most items in the SHAPS scores were significantly different (P < 0.01) in the depressed subjects treated with anti-depressant compared with the healthy subjects, after adjusting the confounding factors, BDI score, and educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anhedonia often persists in depressed patients despite on SSRI anti-depressant treatment.
authors: a Department of Psychological Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Yee
authors: Soo Cheng
authors: SC
authors: Chin
authors: Aili Hanim bt
authors: AH
authors: Hashim
authors: Manveen Kaur A P
authors: MK
authors: Harbajan Singh
authors: Huai Seng
authors: HS
authors: Loh
authors: Ahmad Hatim
authors: AH
authors: Sulaiman
authors: Chong Guan
authors: CG
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059445:Anhedonia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Anhedonia; depression; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors