Anhedonia in young people with first episode psychosis: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Aim: Previous research observed deficits in pleasure experience in chronic schizophrenia, but little is known about anhedonia in early psychosis. Aim of this study is: (1) to examine anhedonia in distinct help-seeking subgroups of young people identified through the First Episode Psychosis (FEP) criteria, (2) to investigate its correlations with psychopathology in the FEP sample, and (3) to monitor longitudinally its stability in the FEP group along 1-year follow-up period.

Materials and methods: All participants (137 FEP and 95 nonpsychotic psychiatric controls [i.e. non-FEP]), aged 13–35 years, completed the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire – Brief version (SPQ-B), the Brief O-LIFE questionnaire (BOL), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life – Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF). We used two different indexes of anhedonia: CAARMS ‘Anhedonia’ item 4.3 and BOL ‘Introvertive Anhedonia’ subscale scores.

Results: In comparison with non-FEP, FEP patients showed higher baseline anhedonia scores. After 1-year follow-up period, FEP individuals had a significant decrease in severity of anhedonia scores. In the FEP group, anhedonia showed significant, enduring (over time) correlations with impaired role functioning, negative symptoms, comorbid depression, poorer self-perceived quality of life and specific schizotypal personality traits (i.e. interpersonal deficits).

Conclusions: Anhedonia is relevant in the early phase of psychosis and its severity is associated with functioning deterioration and a bad quality of life.

Keywords:

• Anhedonia
• negative symptoms
• depression
• first episode psychosis
• early psychosis

Acknowledgements

The ReARMS technical-scientific multi-professional steering committee was established in 2012 and included in alphabetical order: Azzali Silvia (psychologist), Cioncolini Leonardo (head nurse), Chiri Luigi Rocco (psychologist), Fabiani Michela (child-adolescent psychiatrist), Favazzo Rosanna (psychiatrist), Fontana Francesca (psychiatrist), Garlassi Sara (psychologist), Paterlini Federica (psychologist), Pelizza Lorenzo (psychiatrist), Pensieri Luana (child-adolescent psychologist), Raballo Andrea (psychiatrist), Scazza Ilaria (psychologist), and Semrov Enrico (senior psychiatrist). We wish to thank the all the patients and family members who actively participated to the ReARMS program, and we gratefully acknowledge the facilitating support of Dr. Enrico Semrov and all the other colleagues of the Reggio Emilia Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction for their technical and administrative support. Further to that, we wish to thank Dr. Eva Gebhardt that acted as external advisor insuring wide-spread educational training and clinical-supervision support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

ReARMS protocol is partly financed through a special regional fund: ‘Progetto Esordi Psicotici della Regione Emilia Romagna’.