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. 2025 Dec 15:391:119886.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119886. Epub 2025 Jul 16.

Transdiagnostic links of reward processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression

Kevin M Wagner  1 , Matti Cervin  2 , Jessica S C Cheng  1 , Jasmine Arriaga  1 , Vanessa Zavala Cruz  1 , Dayan Berrones  1 , Josselyn S Muñoz  1 , Renee M Frederick  3 , Jacey L Anderberg  4 , Belinda E Núñez Bracho  5 , Victor R Adorno  6 , Leonardo F Fontenelle  7 , Andrew D Wiese  1 ; Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative for OCD genomics (LATINO); Brazilian Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorder Working Group (GTTOC); James J Crowley  12 , Eric A Storch  101
Collaborators, Affiliations

Transdiagnostic links of reward processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression

Kevin M Wagner et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Objectives: Transdiagnostic models aim to uncover shared mechanisms across mental disorders. Reward responsiveness (the ability to experience pleasure from rewarding stimuli) is a plausible, yet underexplored, transdiagnostic mechanism linking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This study used network analysis to (1) examine how key reward responsiveness domains are interlinked in individuals with OCD and (2) explore how each domain is uniquely associated with OCD and depression.

Methods: A total of 1345 individuals with a history of OCD symptoms (ages 18-88, 71 % women) from Latino communities in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and nine Latin American countries completed validated measures of reward responsiveness, OCD, and depression. Network analyses evaluated interrelations among reward responsiveness domains and their links to OCD and depression.

Results: Hobbies and social interactions were the most central domains in the reward responsiveness network. Higher OCD severity was uniquely associated with lower responsiveness to social interactions, while higher depression severity was uniquely linked to reduced responsiveness in hobbies and goal-directed behaviors.

Conclusions: Reward responsiveness is relevant to both OCD and depression. Interventions that enhance engagement in central domains, such as hobbies and social interactions, may improve outcomes. Future research should explore reward responsiveness in other mental disorders to inform transdiagnostic intervention strategies.

Keywords: Assessment; Depression; OCD; Reward responsiveness; Transdiagnostic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Dr. Carolyn Rodriguez (in the last three years) has been a consultant for Biohaven Inc., Osmind, and Biogen; received research grant support from Biohaven Inc.; received royalties from American Psychiatric Association Publishing; and received a stipend from APA Publishing for her role as Deputy Editor at The American Journal of Psychiatry and a stipend for her role as Deputy Editor of Neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Arnold receives research funding from Biohaven Inc., Canadian Institute for Health Research, Ontario Brain Institute, Genome Canada, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Foundation. Dr. Martínez-González receives funding from NIH and FDA. She is a consultant with Abbvie, Sage Pharmaceuticals and SAMHSA. Dr. Goodman receives research fundings from NIH, Biohaven, and the McNair Foundation and consulting fees from Biohaven. He receives royalties from Proem. Dr. Storch reports receiving research funding to his institution from the Ream Foundation, International OCD Foundation, and NIH. He is a consultant for Brainsway and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals. He owns stock less than $5000 in NView. He receives book royalties from Elsevier, Wiley, Oxford, American Psychological Association, Guildford, Springer, Routledge, and Jessica Kingsley. Dr. Cervin receives research support from the Kavli Foundation, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Lindhaga Foundation, Stiftelsen Clas Grochinskys Minnesfond, the Crown Princess Lovisa's Association, the Kamprad Family Foundation, Fonden för Psykisk Hälsa, and Skåne University Hospital's Foundations and Donations; and financial compensation from Springer for editorial work outside of the submitted work. All other authors report no financial disclosures.

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