Delay Discounting as a Transdiagnostic Process in Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Economics
• Psychiatry
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Delay discounting quantifies impulsive preferences for immediate rewards over delayed ones.
• It is hypothesized as a transdiagnostic factor in various health conditions.
• Previous studies show mixed findings regarding delay discounting differences in psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis of published literature on delay discounting in individuals with psychiatric disorders.
• To systematically review and synthesize existing research on this topic.

Main Methods:

• Searched major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, Web of Science) for relevant studies.
• Included English-language articles comparing monetary delay discounting between psychiatric groups and controls.
• Utilized a PRISMA protocol with independent review and random-effects models for analysis.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 57 effect sizes from 43 studies across 8 diagnostic categories.
• Found significantly steeper delay discounting in major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
• Observed significantly shallower discounting in anorexia nervosa.

Conclusions:

• Delay discounting appears to be a transdiagnostic process in most examined psychiatric disorders.
• The findings support the role of impulsive choice in the pathophysiology of various mental health conditions.
• Further research is needed for disorders with limited existing studies, such as posttraumatic stress disorder.