Anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression: state or trait? Review of the literature

L'anedonia nella schizofrenia e nella depressione maggiore: stato o tratto? Rassegna della letteratura

L. Pelizza*, S. Pupo**, A. Ferrari*

* Centro di Salute Mentale di Guastalla (RE), Dipartimento di Salute Mentale di Reggio Emilia, AUSL di Reggio Emilia; ** Servizio di Anestesia, Rianimazione e Terapia Antalgica, Ospedale Civile di Guastalla, AUSL di Reggio Emilia

Objectives

Anhedonia, a term proposed by Ribot in 1896, is an inability to feel pleasure in situations or activities that are normally pleasing. In this review, the authors describe the psychopathological features of anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression.

Methods

Exhaustive review of the international literature (in Medline, PubMed, Psychinfo) on anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression.

Results

In both schizophrenia and major depression, anhedonia is considered both as a state (symptom) and a personological trait (Figs. 1-4).

Conclusions

Anhedonia cannot be considered as a specific psychopathological feature of major depression (Table I), but appears to be a problematic psychological condition that is difficult to interpret due to its nosographical transversality.

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