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Mapping the relationship between anxiety, anhedonia, and depression
E Samuel Winer1, Jessica Bryant1, Gregory Bartoszek2
1Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA.
Journal of Affective Disorders
|July 3, 2017
Summary
Anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure, may link anxiety and depression. This study suggests anxiety can lead to anhedonia, which then contributes to depression over time.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Anxiety and depression frequently co-occur, but the developmental pathways are not fully understood.
- Anhedonia, characterized by a loss of pleasure, is hypothesized as a potential mediator in this comorbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of anhedonia as a linking factor between anxiety and depression.
- To examine the temporal relationship between anxiety, anhedonia, and depression.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted involving participants assessing symptoms of anxiety, depression, anhedonia, and related constructs.
- Study 1 utilized cross-sectional data from 109 participants.
- Studies 2 and 3 involved larger samples (N=747 and N=216, respectively) with Study 3 employing longitudinal data collection over 11 months.
Main Results:
- Anxiety and depression were linked in individuals avoiding activities due to anxiety, with anhedonia partially explaining this relationship in Study 2.
- Study 3 demonstrated that anxiety predicted anhedonia and subsequent depression, and anhedonia predicted anxiety and subsequent depression over time.
Conclusions:
- Anhedonia appears to be a significant mediator in the development of depression from anxiety.
- Anxious individuals may experience a loss of pleasure in activities, leading to the onset of depressive symptoms.
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