Does anhedonia correlate with depression severity in chronic depression?

Abstract

Anhedonia has been proposed as a psychological marker for biological depression. In this study, anhedonia was measured in a cohort of chronically depressed outpatients. Levels of anhedonia were similar to those reported in acutely depressed patients. Anhedonia was significantly correlated with morbid risk of depression in first-degree family members, neuroticism, introversion, and dysfunctional attitudes, but not with depression severity or hopelessness scores. In a naturalistic follow-up study over a 1-year period, while depression severity was significantly reduced, anhedonia scores remained constant. The study provides support for the view that in chronic depression anhedonia may have trait-like properties, and that the propensity toward anhedonic responses may occur irrespective of depressive severity.