When you could’t find pleasure in things
Anhedoniais the inability or reduced ability to feel pleasure.
This article discusses the types, causes, and symptoms of anhedonia.
It also covers how its diagnosed and treated.
Illustration by Tara Anand for Verywell Health
Social anhedoniarevolves around social situations.
It causes a decreased interest in social interactions and reduced pleasure from engaging in social situations.
Physical anhedoniadescribes a persons inability to feel pleasure from physical things that are normally pleasurable.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
This includes eating, touching a loved one, and engaging in sexual interactions.
What Causes Anhedonia?
Its unclear exactly what causes anhedonia.
People with anhedonia may be unable to anticipate good things and find motivation.
They also have problems accurately judging the effort required to achieve a certain reward.
Anhedonia is linked to several mental health disorders.
It is considered one of the core features ofdepression.People withschizophreniaoften report both physical and social anhedonia.
Research has shown that depression inbipolar disorderis also associated with anhedonia.
Doctors use the severity of anhedonia to determine how severe a case of bipolar disorder is.
Anhedonia-like symptoms may occur when usingrecreational drugsor when going through withdrawal.
They may also be more likely to become addicted.
Other conditions associated with anhedonia include:
The severity of anhedonia may be linked to the related health condition.
Those with depression have more severe anhedonia.
Symptoms of Anhedonia
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
The symptoms of anhedonia depend on the bang out.
Anhedonia vs. Apathy: Are They the Same?
Although the two are closely linked, apathy is broader in scope than anhedonia.
This is especially the case among those withpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research has also shown that anhedonia may be a risk factor for dementia-related diseases, such asAlzheimers disease.
Anhedonia has also been associated with a heightened risk of adverse cardiac events among patients with heart conditions.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
How Is Anhedonia Diagnosed?
Medical professionals often use anhedonia as a symptom to diagnose a mental health illness.
For example, anhedonia may lead your healthcare professional to look into whether you have depression or bipolar disorder.
Anhedonia can be measured using a questionnaire.
One of the most popular ones is the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS).
It consists of 14 statements about enjoyable situations typically encountered in daily life.
you’re free to also ask your health insurance company to help you find a mental health professional.
Medications and Therapy
For people with depression,antidepressantsmay be prescribed.
People with schizophrenia are often treated with antipsychotic medications.
Along with medications, treatment may also includepsychotherapy.
You should never quit taking your prescribed antidepressant without speaking to your healthcare provider first.
Let them know if its not helping or youre experiencing unwanted side effects.
Some medications may be able to help with anhedonia associated with physical conditions.
However, the literature is limited, so more studies are needed.
Positive Affect Treatment (PAT)
PAT is an intervention aimed at increasing reward sensitivity.
This approach attempts to increase the brains sensitivity to rewards.
This causes a brief, controlled brain seizure.
Short magnetic pulses are painlessly directed into an area of the brain that controls moods.
The magnetic fields stimulate nerve cells in the brain.
VNS has been used for decades to treat seizure disorders and treatment-resistant depression.
Summary
Anhedonia is when your ability to feel pleasure is reduced or absent.
You lose interest in the things that normally give you pleasure and may withdraw from social interactions.
Treatment of anhedonia involves addressing the condition that its associated with.
For example, anhedonia related to depression may be helped by antidepressants and psychotherapy.
The timeframe can be different for everyone.
It could last days, weeks, or months.
When you get treatment for the underlying condition, anhedonia will typically improve as well.
Encourage your loved one to seek the help they need.
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A narrative review.Front Psychiatry.
