DOES ANHEDONIA CORRELATE WITH DEPRESSION SEVERITY IN CHRONIC DEPRESSION

Anhedonia has been proposed as a psychological marker for biological d epression. In this study, anhedonia was measured in a cohort of chroni cally depressed outpatients. Levels of anhedonia were similar to those reported in acutely depressed patients. Anhedonia was significantly c orrelated with morbid risk of depression in first-degree family member s, neuroticism, introversion, and dysfunctional attitudes, but not wit h depression severity or hopelessness scores. In a naturalistic follow -up study over a 1-year period, while depression severity was signific antly reduced, anhedonia scores remained constant. The study provides support for the view that in chronic depression anhedonia may have tra it-like properties, and that the propensity toward anhedonic responses may occur irrespective of depressive severity. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.