Anhedonia in prolonged schizophrenia spectrum patients with relatively lower vs. higher levels of depression disorders: associations with deficits in social cognition and metacognition

Buck, K. D., McLeod, H. , Gumley, A. , Dimaggio, G., Buck, B. E., Minor, K. S., James, A. V. and Lysaker, P. H. (2014) Anhedonia in prolonged schizophrenia spectrum patients with relatively lower vs. higher levels of depression disorders: associations with deficits in social cognition and metacognition. Consciousness and Cognition, 29, pp. 68-75. (doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2014.07.005)

Abstract

This study has sought to explore whether there are at least two subtypes of anhedonia in schizophrenia: one closely linked with depression and another that occurs in the absence of depression which is related to a general paucity of internal experience. Participants were 163 adults with schizophrenia who completed assessments of depression, anhedonia, executive functioning, positive and negative symptoms, social cognition and metacognition. A cluster analysis based on participants’ depression and anhedonia symptom scores produced three groups: High Depression/High Anhedonia (n = 52), Low Depression/Low Anhedonia (n = 52), and Low Depression/High Anhedonia (n = 59). An ANCOVA and post hoc comparisons controlling for positive and negative symptoms found that the Low Depression/High Anhedonia group had poorer metacognition and social cognition than other groups. These findings point to the possibility of a subtype of anhedonia in schizophrenia, one occurring in the relative lesser levels of depression, and tied to deficits in the ability to think about oneself and others.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McLeod, Professor Hamish and Gumley, Professor Andrew
• Authors: Buck, K. D., McLeod, H., Gumley, A., Dimaggio, G., Buck, B. E., Minor, K. S., James, A. V., and Lysaker, P. H.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Consciousness and Cognition
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1053-8100
• ISSN (Online): 1090-2376