Schizotypy, depression, and anxiety in physical and social anhedonia

Social anhedonia is a more promising indicator of vulnerability to schizophrenia than physical anhedonia, both as assessed by Chapman scales. More broadly, the populations identified by these scales would have a propensity to different psychiatric disorders. This cross-sectional study examined the respective profiles of schizotypy, anxiety, and depression in French students with physical and social anhedonia, using psychometric and interview-based measures. Compared to controls (n=46), subjects with social anhedonia (n=19) reported higher schizotypal scores for interpersonal, paranoid, disorganization, and cognitive/perceptual dimensions, whereas subjects with physical anhedonia (n=35) had more extensive interpersonal deficits and paranoia. Both groups had more depressive and anxiety symptoms than controls, in particular subjects with social anhedonia.