Anhedonia in Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder: A Review

ABSTRACT

Anhedonia, the decreased capacity to experience pleasure, is a defining symptom of unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD). This review summarizes definitions and measurement issues related to the assessment of hedonic capacity in MDD, epidemiological research addressing linkages between anhedonia and MDD, as well as biomedical research investigating the neurobiology of anhedonia in both pre-clinical and clinical contexts. A synthesis of available data is presented that suggests that anhedonia is a core symptom of MDD, the elucidation of which is critical for improved understanding, detection, and treatment of MDD.