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Neural Correlates of Anhedonia as a Trait Marker for Depression

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Anhedonia: A Comprehensive Handbook Volume II

Abstract

The classification of depression is well established in major diagnostic systems with the symptom of anhedonia defined as the loss of interest and pleasure in normally rewarding experiences. Anhedonia suggests abnormalities in neural reward mechanisms. Consistent with this, functional imaging studies of depressed patients have shown abnormalities in the neural circuitry that supports reward, which also correlates with measures on anhedonia questionnaires. Also it has been suggested that the neurobiological mechanisms underlying anhedonia could represent an endophenotype of depression which may manifest in behavioural and neural outcome changes outside acute depressive episodes. While anhedonic symptoms usually remit as depression improves it is possible that abnormalities in the neural processes underpinning reward could persist and represent vulnerability factors for future episodes of illness. It is intriguing to consider that understanding the neurobiology of reward might allow us to detect differences in reward processing in other “at risk” groups, those before the onset of a depressive episode. Taken together studies such as these might then be useful in teasing apart state from trait markers at the neural level. Early identification of risk markers for depression could then guide both early intervention and treatment strategies.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

Anterior cingulate cortex

AMPT:

Amphetamine

DA:

Dopamine

DSM:

Diagnostic Statistical Manual

FH (+):

Family History Positive

ICD:

International Statistical Classification of Diseases

MDD:

Major Depressive Disorder

NAcc:

Nucleus Accumbens

rACC:

Rostral anterior cingulate cortex

RC:

Retrosplenial cortex

rMDD:

Remitted Major Depressive Disorder

SNRI:

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

SSRI:

Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitor

SVC:

Small volume Correction

vmPFC:

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex

VS:

Ventral striatum

WHO:

World Health Organisation

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  1. School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AL, UK

    Ciara McCabe

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Correspondence to Ciara McCabe .

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  1. Haifa & Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Israel Institute of Technology, Hadera, Israel

    Michael S. Ritsner

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McCabe, C. (2014). Neural Correlates of Anhedonia as a Trait Marker for Depression. In: Ritsner, M. (eds) Anhedonia: A Comprehensive Handbook Volume II. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8610-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8610-2_6

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