A comparative study of anhedonia components between major depression and schizophrenia in Chinese populations.
BACKGROUND
Anhedonia is a prominent symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia. At present, it is believed that hedonic processing rather consists of the anticipatory and consummatory phase. The aim of this research is to explore the different anhedonia components in MDD and schizophrenia in Chinese populations.


METHODS
A Chinese version of the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) was used to evaluate 176 MDD patients, 346 schizophrenia patients, and 268 healthy controls. Additionally, the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) was used for MDD patients, while the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was applied for schizophrenia.


RESULTS
The scores of consummatory (TEPS-CON) and anticipatory pleasure (TEPS-ANT) in MDD and schizophrenia were both significantly lower than healthy controls (both P < 0.001). TEPS-CON and TEPS-ANT were negatively correlated with the score of HAMD-17, the duration of illness and admission times in MDD (P < 0.05 or 0.01). TEPS-CON was negatively related to PANSS total scores and negative symptoms (P < 0.05 or 0.01), but no significant correlation was found with duration of illness and admission times in schizophrenia (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between TEPS-ANT and any clinical variables (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The consummatory and anticipatory pleasures were both impaired in MDD and schizophrenia. Consummatory and anticipatory anhedonia can be considered as a "state" in MDD, but as a "trait" in schizophrenia.
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009 People's Republic of China.
Yinghui
Y
Li
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009 People's Republic of China.
Xiaodong
X
Mou
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009 People's Republic of China.
Wenhao
W
Jiang
Department of Psychiatry, Changshu Mental Health Centre, Changshu, China.
Zhong
Z
Yang
Department of Psychosomatics, The Third People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, China.
Xinhua
X
Shen
Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Zhuma
Z
Jin
Department of Psychiatry, Brain Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Zhiping
Z
Dai
Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People's Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, China.
Yuju
Y
Liu
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009 People's Republic of China.
Shengqin
S
Mao
Department of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Haian, Haian, China.
Jian
J
Zhang
Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009 People's Republic of China.
Yonggui
Y
Yuan
Anhedonia; Anticipatory pleasure; Consummatory pleasure; Major depressive disorder; Schizophrenia