Predictors of clinically significant anhedonia in refractory epilepsy

Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure or motivation for reward, is a core feature of depression in epilepsy, but can occur independent from depression. It is reported in over a third of people with epilepsy and has a significant impact on quality of life.

This study determined whether specific features of medication refractory epilepsy are predictive of anhedonia.

We assessed 267 patients with medication refractory epilepsy for anhedonia, primarily using the clinically validated Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) scale.

Patients with clinically significant anhedonia were compared with those without for key demographics, epilepsy characteristics and medication using a logistic regression analysis.

We found that seizure frequency (p < 0.01) but not duration of epilepsy was significantly associated with anhedonia. We also found that benzodiazepine use was significantly associated (p = 0.01) with anhedonia, and levetiracetam/brivaracetam and sodium valproate were significantly negatively associated with anhedonia (0.01 and 0.03 respectively).

High seizure burden in medication refractory epilepsy is significantly associated with anhedonia. Specific antiseizure medications are also associated with the development of anhedonia, but it is unclear whether their use is causative or influenced by the presence of anhedonia.