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Differences between anhedonic and normally hedonic depressive states. Am J Psychiatry 1983 Aug;140(8):1027-30

Date

08/01/1983

Pubmed ID

6869586

DOI

10.1176/ajp.140.8.1027

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0020544486 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   51 Citations

Abstract

In this study of 101 patients who met DSM-III criteria for major depression, those with extreme anhedonia (N = 23) were younger, more depressed, and less neurotic than the patients with a normal-range capacity for pleasurable experiences (N = 78). The anhedonic depressed patients recovered more rapidly; at discharge they consequently had levels of symptom severity equal to those of the hedonic patients, yet they remained significantly more anhedonic. The anhedonic patients exhibited loss of pleasure in appetite, sex, social contacts, and work, which suggests a global dulling of the capacity for pleasure.

Author List

Fawcett J, Clark DC, Scheftner WA, Hedeker D

Author

David C. Clark PhD Assistant Dean, Professor in the Research Office department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Affective Symptoms
Age Factors
Appetite
Depressive Disorder
Diagnosis, Differential
Emotions
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Male
Personality Inventory
Sexual Behavior