MEASURES OF ANHEDONIA AND HEDONIC RESPONSES TO SUCROSE IN DEPRESSIVE AND SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS IN COMPARISON WITH HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

Anhedonia may be considered as a transnosological feature of depressio n and schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to assess hedoni c responses to sucrose solutions and sweet taste perception threshold in patients with major depression and in schizophrenic patients in com parison with healthy subjects (matched for age and gender with depress ive patients), and to compare these responses to evaluations by the Ph ysical and Social Anhedonia scale of Chapman and the Pleasure Scale of Fawcett, generally used to quantify anhedonia. Hedonic responses to s ucrose solutions were similar in patients with major depression (n = 2 0), schizophrenia (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 20). Sweet taste perception threshold was significantly higher in depressive patients than in controls. Hedonic response to sucrose was inversely correlated with physical Anhedonia Scores and sweet taste perception threshold w ith Pleasure Scale scores. Measures of hedonia/anhedonia were not rela ted with the intensity of depression or anxiety as measured by the Mon tgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Sc ale, respectively. In 11 depressed patients hospitalised for 17 to 33 days, neither hedonic ratings to sucrose solutions, sweet taste percep tion threshold, Physical, Social Anhedonia scores nor Pleasure Scale s cores were modified in spite of substantial decrease in MADRS or Hamil ton Anxiety scores. Hedonic responses to sucrose solutions and sweet t aste perception threshold may be used as complementary evaluation to q uantify anhedonia. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.