A transdiagnostic perspective on social anhedonia
Open accessAbstract
Humans are highly social beings, yet people with social anhedonia experience reduced interest in or reward from social situations. Social anhedonia is a key facet of schizotypal personality, an important symptom of schizophrenia, and increasingly recognized as an important feature in a range of other psychological disorders. However, to date, there has been little examination of the similarities and differences in social anhedonia across diagnostic borders. Here, our goal was to conduct a selective review of social anhedonia in different psychological and life course contexts, including the psychosis continuum, depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, along with developmental and neurobiological factors. Current evidence suggests that the nature and expression of social anhedonia vary across psychological disorders with some groups showing deficient learning about, enjoyment from, and anticipation of the pleasurable aspects of social interactions, while for others, some of these components appear to remain intact. However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare-which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved. Future studies, parsing the wanting, liking, and learning components of social reward, will help to fill gaps in the current knowledge base. Consistent across disorders is diminished pleasure from social situations, subsequent withdrawal, and poorer social functioning in those who express social anhedonia. Nonetheless, feelings of loneliness often remain, which suggests the need for social connection is not entirely absent. Adolescence is a particularly important period of social and neural development and may provide a valuable window on the developmental origins of social anhedonia. Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders; therefore, understanding the intricacies of social anhedonia will help to inform treatment and prevention strategies for a range of diagnostic categories.
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Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
This selective review synthesizes evidence on social anhedonia across the psychosis continuum, depressive disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, and autism spectrum conditions, arguing that its nature and expression vary by diagnosis while diminished social pleasure, withdrawal, and poorer social functioning recur consistently. The author calls for future work that parses the wanting, liking, and learning components of social reward and directly compares diagnostic groups.
Key findings
- Social anhedonia is detectable across multiple disorders and in the general population, with patient groups generally reporting higher levels than healthy controls; however, some studies report patients with active depression score higher than patients with schizophrenia (69), while others report schizophrenia patients score higher than bipolar patients, who both exceed controls (196).
- Component profiles differ by group: the psychosis continuum is broadly characterized by deficits in anticipatory but not consummatory reward (though not consistently) (59), while PTSD (121), depression (74), and ASD appear to involve difficulties in both, and eating disorders show a complex, inconsistent picture.
- Social anhedonia may be present at clinically significant levels in approximately a third of patients with depression (70), and in eating disorders it is highly correlated with illness chronicity and predicts social and occupational functioning problems (97); recovered AN patients show intermediate levels.
- Loneliness remains elevated in socially anhedonic individuals across nonclinical, psychosis, and ASD samples (39, 64, 151), suggesting the need for social connection is not entirely absent despite reduced pleasure.
Methods
Selective literature review; studies were included if they focused on social anhedonia or on anticipatory and consummatory components of reward and hedonic responses. Coverage spans the psychosis continuum (nonclinical and clinical samples), depressive disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, autism spectrum conditions, genetics/neural mechanisms and neurodegenerative disorders, and developmental perspectives. No systematic search protocol, meta-analysis, or quantitative synthesis is reported.
Limitations
The paper states that study designs and methodologies are diverse, developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare; it also notes that studies are largely correlational or observational, that there are no recognized clinically relevant cutoffs for most measures, and that reliance on self-report is problematic given potential biases in self-awareness. Evident from the text: the review is explicitly "selective" rather than systematic, so no formal risk-of-bias assessment or exhaustive search is described, and the author notes the psychosis continuum literature is the largest but also the most inconsistent in its findings.
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Cites
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Claims the paper makes
0 of 217 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Premisenone given
Study designs and methodologies in social anhedonia research are diverse.
“However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare—which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisenone given
Feelings of loneliness often remain in those who express social anhedonia.
“Nonetheless, feelings of loneliness often remain, which suggests the need for social connection is not entirely absent.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Social anhedonia is increasingly recognized as an important feature in a range of other psychological disorders.
“Social anhedonia is a key facet of schizotypal personality, an important symptom of schizophrenia, and increasingly recognized as an important feature in a range of other psychological disorders.”
- Also stated in: § Introduction · plain
“Although social anhedonia is a key element of schizotypy and schizophrenia (6, 12, 13), it is increasingly recognized transdiagnostically (14), spurring the development”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [14] Miettunen, 2012, Predicting depression with psychopathology and temperament traits: the northern Finland 1966 birth cohort, Depress Res Treat source
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- Also stated in: § Introduction · plain
- Interpretationreasoning
The persistence of loneliness in people with social anhedonia suggests that the need for social connection is not entirely absent.
“Nonetheless, feelings of loneliness often remain, which suggests the need for social connection is not entirely absent.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisenone given
Direct comparisons between diagnostic groups in social anhedonia research are rare.
“However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare—which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Premisenone given
The roles of developmental and neurobiological factors in social anhedonia are not routinely considered.
“However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare—which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Pleasurable or rewarding experiences comprise an anticipatory 'wanting' component and an 'in-the-moment enjoyment' (liking) component.
“Current evidence suggests that, cognitively, pleasurable or rewarding experiences, in general, comprise a “looking forward to” anticipatory component, which is cognitively driven (i.e., “wanting”) (23, 24), and an “in-the-moment enjoyment” (i.e., “liking”) component (25, 26).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [23] Berridge, 2001, Reward learning: reinforcement, incentives, and expectations, Psychol Learn Motiv source
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- cites [24] Berridge, 2007, The debate over dopamine’s role in reward: the case for incentive salience, Psychopharmacology source
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- cites [25] Smith, 2007, Opioid limbic circuit for reward: interaction between hedonic hotspots of nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum, J Neurosci source
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- cites [26] Peciña, 2005, Hedonic hot spot in nucleus accumbens shell: where do μ-Opioids cause increased hedonic impact of sweetness, J Neurosci source
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- Premisecitation
Social anhedonia stems from diminished positive affect from social contact, rather than heightened negative affect.
“That is, social anhedonia stems from diminished positive affect from social contact, rather than heightened negative affect (9).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9] Silvia, 2011, Aberrant asociality: how individual differences in social anhedonia illuminate the need to belong, J Pers source
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- Premisenone given
Accumulating evidence from preclinical, translational, basic, and applied human research points to pleasure, reward, learning, anhedonia, and social anhedonia being related to one another.
“However, accumulating evidence from preclinical, translational, basic, and applied human research points to these concepts being related to one another.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Processes related to the experience of pleasure and reward likely provide the mechanisms underpinning the behavioral expression of social anhedonia.
“Processes related to the experience of pleasure and reward likely provide the mechanisms underpinning the behavioral expression of social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationcitation
The capacity to attend to, and ultimately learn from, important aspects of one's environment may be a key issue in social anhedonia.
“Although tentative, these two papers suggest that the capacity to attend to, and ultimately learn from, important aspects of one’s environment may be a key issue in social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
High levels of social anhedonia in healthy young adults are associated with high levels of loneliness.
“Nonetheless, high levels of social anhedonia—at least in healthy young adults—are associated with high levels of loneliness (39).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [39] Badcock, 2016, Loneliness and schizotypy are distinct constructs, separate from general psychopathology, Front Psychol source
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- Interpretationreasoning
In those from the general community and patients with schizophrenia, social anhedonia is associated with alterations in the subjective experience of, and objective responding to, emotionally loaded social cues.
“Together, these studies suggest that in those from the general community and patients with schizophrenia, social anhedonia is associated with alterations in the subjective experience of, and objective responding to, emotionally loaded social cues.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
In patients with schizophrenia, basic symptoms capturing a need to consciously reflect on usual activities, reduced social motivation and emotional meaning, and lower stress thresholds are associated with higher social anhedonia.
“The basic symptoms that capture a need to consciously reflect on usual activities, reduced social motivation and emotional meaning, and lower stress thresholds were all associated with higher social anhedonia in patients with schizophrenia (57).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [57] Fortunati, 2015, Anhedonia in schizophrenia: the role of subjective experiences, Compr Psychiatry source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Social anhedonia, rather than positive psychotic symptoms, may be responsible for decreased social engagement across the psychosis continuum.
“Given the similar findings in nonclinical samples, social anhedonia, rather than positive psychotic symptoms, may be responsible for decreased social engagement across the psychosis continuum.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
During reward paradigms, people expressing higher levels of social anhedonia change their responding style less in reaction to social, but not monetary, rewards.
“When examining the learning component, during reward paradigms, people expressing higher levels of social anhedonia changed their responding style less in reaction to social, but not monetary, rewards (60, 61), demonstrating less favorable responses to social cues than would be expected.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [60] Chevallier, 2016, Measuring social motivation using signal detection and reward responsiveness, PLoS One source
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- cites [61] Xie, 2014, Domain-specific hedonic deficits towards social affective but not monetary incentives in social anhedonia, Sci Rep source
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- Interpretationcitation
Increased social anhedonia and related constructs diminish social functioning and willingness to engage in social interactions in those at risk for or diagnosed with psychosis.
“Collectively, these studies suggest that increased social anhedonia and related constructs diminish social functioning and willingness to engage in social interactions in those at risk for or diagnosed with psychosis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Intact positive emotional responses to external stimuli in those with social anhedonia have not been consistently reported.
“Intact positive emotional responses to external stimuli, in those with social anhedonia, have not been consistently reported (52).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [52] Kerns, 2008, Social and physical anhedonia and valence and arousal aspects of emotional experience, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- Premisecitation
A reciprocal relationship appears to exist between poor premorbid social adjustment and increased levels of social anhedonia in help-seeking youth at clinical high risk for psychosis.
“Moving into clinical samples, a reciprocal relationship appears to exist between poor premorbid social adjustment and increased levels of social anhedonia in help-seeking youth at clinical high risk for psychosis (46).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [46] Tarbox-Berry, 2017, Premorbid social adjustment and association with attenuated psychotic symptoms in clinical high-risk and help-seeking youth, Psychol Med source
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- Premisecitation
In treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, lower levels of anhedonia-asociality predict a longer time living in the community between admissions.
“Conversely, in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia, lower levels of anhedonia–asociality predicted a longer time living in the community between admissions (48).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [48] Ahmed, 2016, An examination of neurocognition and symptoms as predictors of post-hospital community tenure in treatment resistant schizophrenia, Psychiatry Res source
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- Interpretationcitation
Impaired learning makes it hard to recouple social approach behaviors and motivation with positive emotional experiences.
“Impaired learning will then make it hard to recouple social approach behaviors and motivation with positive emotional experiences (67).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [67] Wang, 2018, Motivation deficits in individuals with social anhedonia, Psychiatry Res source
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- Interpretationcitation
Diminished experience of reward in social anhedonia along the psychosis continuum may be specific to social stimuli.
“Therefore, it appears that diminished experience of reward in social anhedonia along the psychosis continuum may be specific to social stimuli (61).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [61] Xie, 2014, Domain-specific hedonic deficits towards social affective but not monetary incentives in social anhedonia, Sci Rep source
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- Premisecitation
Anhedonia in psychotic disorders is associated with high levels of loneliness.
“Again, however, anhedonia in psychotic disorders is associated with high levels of loneliness (64), suggesting that the enjoyment of social interactions is diminished in people with psychosis, but sensitivity to pain from (inadequate) social connections remains.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [64] Badcock, 2015, Loneliness in psychotic disorders and its association with cognitive function and symptom profile, Schizophr Res source
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- Interpretationcitation
Social withdrawal in social anhedonia provides a potential blockage to reinstating social connections and alleviating loneliness.
“In addition, given that social withdrawal occurs in social anhedonia, it provides a potential blockage to reinstating social connections and alleviating loneliness (66).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [66] Tremeau, 2016, What can the study of first impressions tell us about attitudinal ambivalence and paranoia in schizophrenia, Psychiatry Res source
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- Interpretationcitation
Reduced pleasure from social engagement could impair an individual's capacity to gain meaningful connections.
“Given that a significant component of social connections extends from positive responses (65), more specifically positive connection to people, reduced pleasure from social engagement could impair an individual’s capacity to gain meaningful connections.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [65] Blanchard, 2015, Social affiliation and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: examining the role of behavioral skills and subjective responding, Schizophr Res source
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- Premisenone given
There is limited research on social anhedonia specifically in depressive disorders.
“Anhedonia is a core component of depressive disorders. However, there is limited research on social anhedonia specifically.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Anticipation of a less positive response to social situations is reported in females from the general population with high levels of depressive symptoms compared to those with low depressive symptoms.
“Anticipation of a less positive response to social situations is reported in females, from the general population, with high levels of depressive symptoms compared to those with low depressive symptoms (75).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [75] Setterfield, 2016, Increased social anhedonia and reduced helping behaviour in young people with high depressive symptomatology, J Affect Disord source
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- Premisecitation
Cognitive vulnerabilities for depression such as increased self-focus tend to lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
“Certainly, cognitive vulnerabilities for depression such as increased self-focus tend to lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships (76).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [76] Schwartz-Mette, 2016, Depressive symptoms and conversational self-focus in adolescents’ friendships, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Evidence that social anhedonia and depressive symptoms are related in the general population could contribute evidence toward social anhedonia being viewed as a trait-like vulnerability rather than coupled with clinical state.
“Evidence that social anhedonia and depressive symptoms are related in the general population could contribute evidence toward social anhedonia being viewed as a trait-like vulnerability rather than coupled with clinical state.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Social anhedonia may be present at clinically significant levels in approximately a third of patients with depression.
“Social anhedonia may be present at clinically significant levels in approximately a third of patients with depression (70).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [70] Pelizza, 2009, Anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression: state or trait, Ann Gen Psychiatry source
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- Premisecitation
In clinically active patients with depression, those with depression had higher levels of social anhedonia compared to individuals with schizophrenia.
“One study involving clinically active patients with depression reported that those with depression had higher levels of social anhedonia compared to individuals with schizophrenia (69).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [69] Olsen, 2015, Associations between trait anhedonia and emotional memory deficits in females with schizophrenia versus major depression, Psychiatry Res source
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- Premisecitation
Social anhedonia is temporally linked to episodes of clinical depression.
“Other studies suggest that social anhedonia is temporally linked to episodes of clinical depression (81).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [81] Katsanis, 1992, Clinical correlates of anhedonia and perceptual aberration in first-episode patients with schizophrenia and affective disorder, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Reward processes are key to clinical symptoms of eating disorders.
“Such complexity illustrates the heterogeneity in eating disorders; however, it is immediately evident that reward processes are key to clinical symptoms.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
Depression and social anhedonia may co-occur in subclinical and all clinical disorders where depression is present.
“In conclusion, depression and social anhedonia may co-occur in subclinical and all clinical disorders where depression is present.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Current models recognize the importance of social and emotional difficulties in the development, maintenance, and recovery from eating disorders.
“Beyond reward difficulties in relation to food, current models also recognize the importance of social and emotional difficulties in the development, maintenance, and recovery from eating disorders (91, 92).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [91] Treasure, 2012, A three-phase model of the social emotional functioning in eating disorders, Eur Eat Disord Rev source
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- cites [92] Caglar-Nazali, 2014, A systematic review and meta-analysis of ‘Systems for Social Processes’ in eating disorders, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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- Premisecitation
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are characterized by disturbances in behavioral and neurobiological responses to food rewards.
“Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), are characterized by disturbances in behavioral and neurobiological responses to food rewards (82).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [82] Berridge, 2010, The tempted brain eats: pleasure and desire circuits in obesity and eating disorders, Brain Res source
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- Premisecitation
In patients with schizophrenia, higher ratings of social anhedonia correlate with self-depreciation, guilty ideas of reference, pathological guilt, early wakening, suicidality, and observed depression.
“For example, in patients with schizophrenia, higher ratings of social anhedonia reportedly correlate with self-depreciation, guilty ideas of reference, pathological guilt, early wakening, suicidality, and observed depression (80).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [80] Kollias, 2008, Association of physical and social anhedonia with depression in the acute phase of schizophrenia, Psychopathology source
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- Premisecitation
Social anhedonia is now serving as a specific treatment target for psychological interventions in eating disorders.
“Whether this is a cause or a consequence of eating disorders is still unclear; however, given its potential impact on recovery, social anhedonia is now serving as a specific treatment target for psychological interventions (103).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [103] Tchanturia, 2015, Cognitive Remediation and Emotion Skills Training (CREST) for anorexia nervosa in individual format: self-reported outcomes, BMC Psychiatry source
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- Premisecitation
Social anhedonia has been reported to reduce following an intervention comprising cognitive remediation and emotion skills training in adults with anorexia.
“Social anhedonia has been reported to reduce following an intervention comprising cognitive remediation and emotion skills training in adults with anorexia (103, 104).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [103] Tchanturia, 2015, Cognitive Remediation and Emotion Skills Training (CREST) for anorexia nervosa in individual format: self-reported outcomes, BMC Psychiatry source
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- cites [104] Tchanturia, 2014, Effectiveness of cognitive remediation and emotion skills training (CREST) for anorexia nervosa in group format: a naturalistic pilot study, Eur Eat Disord Rev source
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- Premisecitation
At the neural level, areas of hypo- and hyperactivation have been identified in response to positive and negative social exchanges, respectively, in eating disorders.
“Evidence from behavioral studies suggests women with AN avoid looking at the faces and eyes of others and find them less rewarding compared to non-eating disorder controls (100), while at the neural level, areas of hypo- and hyperactivation have been identified in response to positive and negative social exchanges, respectively (101, 102).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [101] McAdams, 2015, Neural responses to kindness and malevolence differ in illness and recovery in women with anorexia nervosa, Hum Brain Mapp source
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- cites [102] Via, 2015, Abnormal social reward responses in anorexia nervosa: an fMRI study, PLoS One source
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- Premisecitation
The presence of ASD traits in those with anorexia has been reported to be positively related to social anhedonia.
“The presence of ASD traits in those with anorexia has been reported to be positively related to social anhedonia (108).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [108] Adamson, 2018, Effectiveness of emotional skills training for patients with anorexia nervosa with autistic symptoms in group and individual format, Eur Eat Disord Rev source
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- Interpretationreasoning
The presence of social anhedonia in eating disorders suggests that there may be overlapping mechanisms for social reward mirroring those found in other groups, such as autism spectrum disorders and along the psychosis continuum.
“The presence of social anhedonia in eating disorders suggests that there may be overlapping mechanisms for social reward mirroring those found in other groups, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD; see the section Autism Spectrum Conditions) and along the psychosis continuum.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
A growing recognition of alterations in reward processing led to a reconceptualization of PTSD as an imbalance between approach (reward-related) and avoidance (fear-related) systems.
“While early research focused on fear-related processes, a growing recognition of alterations in reward processing (115, 116) led to a reconceptualization of PTSD as an imbalance between approach (reward-related) and avoidance (fear-related) systems (117–119).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 5 sources checked- cites [115] Elman, 2009, Functional neuroimaging of reward circuitry responsivity to monetary gains and losses in posttraumatic stress disorder, Biol Psychiatry source
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- Interpretationcitation
Variation in results on reward functioning in PTSD may reflect heterogeneity of the causes, symptoms, and underlying reward mechanisms of posttraumatic stress.
“Variation in results may reflect heterogeneity of the causes, symptoms (120), and underlying reward mechanisms (121) of posttraumatic stress.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [120] Galatzer-Levy, 2013, 636,120 Ways to have posttraumatic stress disorder, Perspect Psychol Sci source
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- cites [121] Lieberman, 2017, Impact of posttraumatic stress symptom dimensions on psychophysiological reactivity to threat and reward, J Psychiatr Res source
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- Premisecitation
A systematic review of self-report, behavioral, and neurobiological measures yielded a complex and mixed pattern of results for reward functioning in people with PTSD.
“More recently, a systematic review of self-report, behavioral, and neurobiological measures yielded a complex and mixed pattern of results for reward functioning in people with PTSD.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Anhedonia is a central symptom of PTSD.
“Like depressive disorders, anhedonia is also a central symptom of PTSD (110, 111).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [110] 2013
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- cites [111] Mitchell, 2017, Network models of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder: Implications for ICD-11, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- Premisecitation
Self-report data indicate that negative affective interference is positively correlated with depression and PTSD symptoms.
“Self-report data indicate that negative affective interference is positively correlated with depression and PTSD symptoms (124).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [124] DePierro, 2014, Anhedonia in trauma related disorders: the good, the bad, and the shut-down source
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- Premisecitation
Negative affective interference reflects disruption in reward learning in the context of previously adverse social experiences.
“This specific form of anhedonia, termed negative affective interference, reflects disruption in reward learning in the context of previously adverse social experiences (123), for example, associating positive social contact (e.g., touch) with fear and sexual abuse.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [123] Frewen, 2012, Assessment of anhedonia in psychological trauma: psychometric and neuroimaging perspectives
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- Premisecitation
People with PTSD, especially related to prolonged childhood abuse, often have aberrant hedonic tagging such that they experience negative emotional responses to usually positive events.
“Specifically, traumatized individuals report an aberrant hedonic tagging such that they experience negative emotional responses to usually positive events.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Higher levels of autistic traits in a nonclinical sample were associated with less enjoyment of sociability, even when differences in alexithymia were considered.
“Similarly, higher levels of autistic traits in a nonclinical sample were associated with less enjoyment of sociability (measured with the Social Reward Questionnaire) (109), even when differences in alexithymia were considered.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [109] Foulkes, 2015, Common and distinct impacts of autistic traits and alexithymia on social reward, PLoS One source
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- Premisecitation
Adults with ASD have significantly higher scores on the Social Anhedonia Scale compared to their peers, even when dysphoric affect was controlled.
“Similarly, adults with ASD were found to have significantly higher scores on the Social Anhedonia Scale (141) compared to their peers, even when dysphoric affect was controlled (142).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [141] Chapman, 1976, Scales for physical and social anhedonia, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [142] Berthoz, 2013, Investigating emotional impairments in adults with autism spectrum disorders and the broader autism phenotype, Psychiatry Res source
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- Premisecitation
Studies using alternative, well-validated measures of hedonic response have produced a similar pattern of results.
“However, studies using alternative, well-validated measures of hedonic response have produced a similar pattern of results (143).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [143] Chevallier, 2012, Brief report: selective social anhedonia in high functioning autism, J Autism Dev Disord source
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- Premisecitation
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes implicated in neurodevelopment are associated with social anhedonia along the psychosis continuum.
“Similarly, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes implicated in neurodevelopment have been associated with social anhedonia along the psychosis continuum (155, 156).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [155] Bader, 2012, Proteomic, genomic and translational approaches identify CRMP1 for a role in schizophrenia and its underlying traits, Hum Mol Genet source
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- cites [156] Tomppo, 2009, Association of variants in DISC1 with psychosis-related traits in a large population cohort, Arch Gen Psychiatry source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Two neurobiological pathways are thought to contribute to social anhedonia.
“Building on these findings, two neurobiological pathways are thought to contribute to social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
In Parkinson's disease, consummatory anhedonia is specifically blunted independently of depression.
“in Parkinson’s disease (characterized by the breakdown of dopamine-producing neurons), consummatory anhedonia is specifically blunted (160) independently of depression (161)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked - Interpretationcitation
High rates of loneliness reported by people with ASD suggest that a basic need for some social bonds remains.
“Again, however, while the motivation for social connection may be lower, the high rates of loneliness reported by people with ASD suggest that a basic need for some social bonds remains (151).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [151] Mazurek, 2014, Loneliness, friendship, and well-being in adults with autism spectrum disorders, Autism source
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- Premisecitation
The first neurobiological pathway emphasizes the role of dopamine in reward processes and social bonding.
“The first emphasizes the role of dopamine in reward processes and social bonding (157).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [157] Feldman, 2017, The neurobiology of human attachments, Trends Cogn Sci source
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- Premisecitation
Multivariate studies from the general population indicate that social anhedonia is genetically conferred.
“Certainly, multivariate studies from the general population have pointed to social anhedonia being genetically conferred (153, 154).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [153] Hay, 2001, Phenotypic and genetic analyses of a short measure of psychosis-proneness in a large-scale Australian twin study, Twin Res source
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- cites [154] MacDonald, 2001, Genetic and environmental influences on schizotypy: a community-based twin study, Schizophr Bull source
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- Premisecitation
A competing neurobiological hypothesis highlights the role of the opioid system in human affiliation and social bonding.
“A competing neurobiological hypothesis highlights the role of the opioid system in human affiliation and social bonding (162).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [162] Nummenmaa, 2017, Opioid system and human emotions, Br J Pharmacology source
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- Rests on an assumption: The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.
- Interpretationreasoning
Social bonding, reward processes, and social anhedonia are biologically mediated by both opioid and dopamine pathways.
“Together, these studies point to social bonding, reward processes, and social anhedonia being biologically mediated by both opioid and dopamine pathways.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.
- Premisecitation
During a theory of mind task, activity in the medial prefrontal cortex accounted for the relationship between social anhedonia and self-reported social functioning.
“In addition, during a theory of mind task, activity in the medial prefrontal cortex accounted for the relationship between social anhedonia and self-reported social functioning (8).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [8] Dodell-Feder, 2014, The neural basis of theory of mind and its relationship to social functioning and social anhedonia in individuals with schizophrenia, Neuroimage Clin source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Connectivity between emotional regulation and reward centers within the brain is important in social anhedonia.
“These studies highlight the importance of connectivity between “emotional regulation” and “reward” centers within the brain.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Reduced neural activity in face processing areas has been associated with social anhedonia during an emotional discrimination task.
“Reduced neural activity in face processing areas has been associated with social anhedonia during an emotional discrimination task (4)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [4] Germine, 2011, Social anhedonia is associated with neural abnormalities during face emotion processing, Neuroimage source
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- Premisecitation
Smaller amygdala volumes have been related to higher social anhedonia scores in patients with schizophrenia.
“smaller amygdala volumes have been related to higher social anhedonia scores in patients with schizophrenia (172).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [172] Gunther, 2016, Amygdalar gray matter volume and social relating in schizophrenia, Neuropsychobiology source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Brain areas involved in social cognition are associated with social anhedonia in clinical and healthy individuals.
“These studies suggest that brain areas involved in social cognition are associated with social anhedonia in clinical and healthy individuals.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisenone given
The type of stimuli perceived to be rewarding changes throughout development.
“Importantly, the type of stimuli perceived to be rewarding changes throughout development.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Various forms of social defeat have been linked to the onset of anhedonia, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
“Conversely, various forms of social defeat have been linked to the onset of anhedonia, depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia (186–189).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [186] Selten, 2013, The social defeat hypothesis of schizophrenia: an update, Schizophr Bull source
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- cites [187] Allen, 2003, The social risk hypothesis of depressed mood: evolutionary, psychosocial, and neurobiological perspectives, Psychol Bull source
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- cites [188] Rohde, 2001, The relevance of hierarchies, territories, defeat for depression in humans: hypotheses and clinical predictions, J Affect Disord source
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- cites [189] Gilbert, 2002, Relationship of anhedonia and anxiety to social rank, defeat and entrapment, J Affect Disord source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Age of first presentation of social anhedonia may have different implications for well-being.
“This suggests that age of first presentation of social anhedonia may have different implications for well-being.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Persistent, trait-like social anhedonia in early adolescence predicts increased severity of, and poorer recovery from, depression, above and beyond other illness features.
“Indeed, persistent, trait-like social anhedonia in early adolescence predicts increased severity of, and poorer recovery from, depression, above and beyond other illness features (184)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [184] McMakin, 2012, Anhedonia predicts poorer recovery among youth with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-treatment resistant depression, J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry source
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- Premisecitation
Elevated levels of social anhedonia in older adolescents are associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders later in adulthood.
“while elevated levels of social anhedonia in older adolescents have been associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders later in adulthood (6, 45).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [6] Kwapil, 1998, Social anhedonia as a predictor of the development of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [45] Kwapil, 2013, Prediction of psychopathology and functional impairment by positive and negative schizotypy in the Chapmans’ ten-year longitudinal study, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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- Premisecitation
Adolescence may be an especially important window to measure social anhedonia because it is marked by considerable variability in neural, affective, and social development as well as peak vulnerability for psychopathology.
“Adolescence may be an especially important window to measure social anhedonia [e.g., Ref. (19)], since it is marked by considerable variability in neural, affective, and social development as well as peak vulnerability for psychopathology (183).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [19] Gooding, 2016, Assessing social anhedonia in adolescence: the ACIPS-A in a community sample, Eur. Psychiatry source
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- cites [183] McGorry, 2011, Age of onset and timing of treatment for mental and substance use disorders: implications for preventive intervention strategies and models of care, Curr Opin Psychiatry source
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- Premisecitation
Children at familial risk for developing psychosis present with poor social skills at all stages of development.
“children at familial risk for developing psychosis present with poor social skills at all stages of development (182).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [182] Horton, 2014, The nature and timing of social deficits in child and adolescent offspring of parents with schizophrenia: preliminary evidence for precursors of negative symptoms, Schizophr Res source
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- Premisecitation
Adolescence appears to be a time when reward circuits are particularly sensitive to social context and peer experiences.
“Adolescence appears to represent a time when reward circuits are particularly sensitive to social context and peer experiences (180, 181).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked - Premisecitation
Imaging studies emphasize the importance of reward circuitry, whose development and consolidation can be traced back to adolescence as a key window of sensitivity.
“Certainly, imaging studies emphasize the importance of reward circuitry, the development and consolidation of which can be traced back to adolescence as a key window of sensitivity (179).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [179] Forbes, 2009, Where’s the fun in that? Broadening the focus on reward function in depression, Biol Psychiatry source
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- Premisecitation
Recent improvements in assessment at self-report, behavioral, and neurophysiological levels are beginning to offer a more detailed understanding of how social pleasure develops and goes awry.
“Recent improvements in assessment (at self-report, behavioral, and neurophysiological levels) are beginning to offer a more detailed understanding of how social pleasure develops and goes awry (193, 194).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [193] Kohls, 2009, Differential effects of social and non-social reward on response inhibition in children and adolescents
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- cites [194] Kujawa, 2017, Social processing in early adolescence: associations between neurophysiological, self-report, and behavioral measures, Biol Psychol source
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- Interpretationcitation
There may be normative, age-related variations in the most prominent facets of social rewards within adolescence.
“Together, the findings suggest that there may be normative, age-related variations in the most prominent facets of social rewards within adolescence that require more detailed examination (190).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [190] Ethridge, 2017, Neural responses to social and monetary reward in early adolescence and emerging adulthood, Psychophysiology source
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- Interpretationcitation
Social anhedonia has quite specific effects on neural responses to rewards during adolescence.
“Therefore, it appears that social anhedonia has quite specific effects on neural responses to rewards during adolescence.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Social anhedonia disrupted the neural response to social rewards: higher levels of activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and increased connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens in response to positive social feedback were associated with higher levels of self-reported social anhedonia in adolescents.
“However, Healey et al. (173) reported that social anhedonia disrupted the neural response to social rewards: higher levels of activation in the medial prefrontal cortex and increased connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the nucleus accumbens in response to positive social feedback were associated with higher levels of self-reported social anhedonia in adolescents.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [173] Healey, 2014, Social anhedonia and medial prefrontal response to mutual liking in late adolescents, Brain Cogn source
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- Interpretationreasoning
Across populations, social anhedonia appears to have consequences for social enjoyment, affiliation, engagement, and functioning over and above any symptoms attributable to diagnosis.
“Across populations, it appears to have consequences for social enjoyment, affiliation, engagement, and functioning over and above any symptoms attributable to diagnosis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
In patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, depression rather than cognitive functioning has been reported to predict social anhedonia.
“For instance, in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, depression (rather than cognitive functioning) has been reported to predict social anhedonia (196).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [196] Bodapati, 2017, Visual memory uniquely predicts anhedonia in schizophrenia but not bipolar disorder, J Neuropsychol source
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- Premisecitation
Decreased sensitivity to social rewards is documented in schizophrenia, eating disorders, PTSD, and autism spectrum disorders.
“Specifically, decreased sensitivity to social rewards is documented in schizophrenia (61), eating disorders (93), PTSD (118), and autism spectrum disorders (146).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [61] Xie, 2014, Domain-specific hedonic deficits towards social affective but not monetary incentives in social anhedonia, Sci Rep source
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- cites [93] Cardi, 2013, Social reward and rejection sensitivity in eating disorders: an investigation of attentional bias and early experiences, World J Biol Psychiatry source
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- cites [118] Nawijn, 2015, Reward functioning in PTSD: a systematic review exploring the mechanisms underlying anhedonia, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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- Premisecitation
Anhedonia is a distinct feature of negative symptoms in schizophrenia worthy of consideration.
“When considering the clinical end point of schizophrenia, work is emerging that anhedonia is a distinct feature of negative symptoms worthy of consideration (202).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [202] Strauss, 2018, The latent structure of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, JAMA Psychiatry source
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- Premisenone given
The self-report nature of scales used in social anhedonia research relies on the level of self-awareness people have about their own thoughts, feelings, behaviors in social interactions, and motivations for interpersonal communication.
“The self-report nature of the scales used in research on social anhedonia also relies on the level of self-awareness that people have about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in social interactions, and motivations for interpersonal communication.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Within each diagnostic group and in healthy populations, those who express social anhedonia are a subgroup whose hedonic and reward responses likely differ from their counterparts.
“Within each diagnostic group (and indeed in healthy populations), those who express social anhedonia are a subgroup (70) whose hedonic and reward responses likely differ from their counterparts.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [70] Pelizza, 2009, Anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression: state or trait, Ann Gen Psychiatry source
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- Study design and conductnone given
There are no recognized clinically relevant cutoffs for most measures used in this field to distinguish functional versus dysfunctional levels of social anhedonia.
“Currently, there are no recognized clinically relevant cutoffs for most of the measures used in this field to distinguish functional versus dysfunctional levels of social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Adolescence represents a key window of vulnerability given that reward processing and social needs undergo maturational changes.
“Adolescence represents a key window of vulnerability given that reward processing and social needs undergo maturational changes (207, 208).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [207] Bjork, 2004, Incentive-elicited brain activation in adolescents: similarities and differences from young adults, J Neurosci source
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- cites [208] Bjork, 2010, Adolescents, adults and rewards: comparing motivational neurocircuitry recruitment using fMRI, PLoS One source
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- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 24
- May combine two claims. 83
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationSocial connection buffers mental well-being.
“Understanding the nature of this need is central to appreciating how social connection buffers mental well-being (3).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [3] Cacioppo, 2015, Loneliness: clinical import and interventions, Perspect Psychol Sci source
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PremisecitationSocial anhedonia is a key facet of schizotypal personality and an important symptom of schizophrenia.
“Social anhedonia is a key facet of schizotypal personality, an important symptom of schizophrenia, and increasingly recognized as an important feature in a range of other psychological disorders.”
- Also stated in: § Introduction · plain
“Although social anhedonia is a key element of schizotypy and schizophrenia (6, 12, 13), it is increasingly recognized transdiagnostically (14), spurring the development”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [6] Kwapil, 1998, Social anhedonia as a predictor of the development of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [12] Gooding, 2005, Clinical status of at-risk individuals 5 years later: further validation of the psychometric high-risk strategy, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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- cites [13] Gooding, 2007, Rates of avoidant, schizotypal, schizoid and paranoid personality disorders in psychometric high-risk groups at 5-year follow-up, Schizophr Res source
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- Also stated in: § Introduction · plain
May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenThe nature and expression of social anhedonia vary across psychological disorders, with some groups showing deficient learning about, enjoyment from, and anticipation of the pleasurable aspects of social interactions, while for others some of these components appear intact.
“Current evidence suggests that the nature and expression of social anhedonia vary across psychological disorders with some groups showing deficient learning about, enjoyment from, and anticipation of the pleasurable aspects of social interactions, while for others, some of these components appear to remain intact.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenConsistent across disorders is diminished pleasure from social situations, subsequent withdrawal, and poorer social functioning in those who express social anhedonia.
“Consistent across disorders is diminished pleasure from social situations, subsequent withdrawal, and poorer social functioning in those who express social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe need to belong is fundamental to human behavior, shaping motivation for and maintenance of social relationships.
“The need to belong is fundamental to human behavior, shaping our motivation for and maintenance of social relationships (1, 2).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [1] Baumeister, 1995, The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation, Psychol Bull source
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- cites [2] DeWall, 2011, Belongingness as a core personality trait: how social exclusion influences social functioning and personality expression, J Pers source
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InterpretationreasoningUnderstanding the intricacies of social anhedonia will help to inform treatment and prevention strategies for a range of diagnostic categories.
“Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders; therefore, understanding the intricacies of social anhedonia will help to inform treatment and prevention strategies for a range of diagnostic categories.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThe diversity of study designs and methodologies, the lack of routine consideration of developmental and neurobiological factors, and the rarity of direct comparisons between diagnostic groups prevent a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in social anhedonia.
“However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare—which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationSocial anhedonia is associated with social withdrawal but is distinct from social anxiety, where withdrawal from social situations is driven by fear of negative evaluation rather than lack of reward from social situations.
“While social anhedonia is associated with social withdrawal, it is distinct from social anxiety, where withdrawal from social situations is driven by a fear of negative evaluation, rather than lack of reward from social situations.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9] Silvia, 2011, Aberrant asociality: how individual differences in social anhedonia illuminate the need to belong, J Pers source
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InterpretationreasoningSocial anhedonia is not merely a reflection of diminished social interest, but at its core entails a reduced positive appraisal of all aspects of interpersonal relationships.
“In short, social anhedonia is not merely a reflection of diminished social interest, but at its core entails a reduced positive appraisal of all aspects of interpersonal relationships.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationSocial anhedonia is not simply an extreme form of introversion; it is comparable to low social closeness captured in the personality literature.
“Similarly, social anhedonia is not simply an extreme form of introversion, which is characterized by low positive emotion and a preference for solitude (10). Rather, it seems comparable to (low) social closeness captured in the personality literature (11).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [10] Martin, 2016, Social anhedonia is not just extreme introversion: empirical evidence of distinct constructs, J Pers Disord source
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- cites [11] Olino, 2016, A comparison of psychometric and convergent validity for social anhedonia and social closeness, Psychol Assess source
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Premisenone givenPleasure, reward, learning, anhedonia, and social anhedonia are all distinct concepts.
“It is recognized that pleasure, reward, learning, anhedonia, and social anhedonia are all distinct concepts.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationA third component, 'learning,' ensures that individuals pair their social experiences with positive pleasurable emotions and consequently seek out similar future experiences.
“A third component, “learning,” ensures that individuals pair their social experiences with positive pleasurable emotions and consequently seek out similar future experiences (27).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [27] Berridge, 2008, Affective neuroscience of pleasure: reward in humans and animals, Psychopharmacology source
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InterpretationcitationUnderstanding which components of cognitive processing are altered in people with social anhedonia, regardless of diagnostic category, could assist in improving social functioning and therapeutic outcomes.
“Understanding which components of cognitive processing are altered in people with social anhedonia—regardless of diagnostic category—could assist in improving social functioning (30, 31) and therapeutic outcomes (32).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checkedProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationThe continuum model posits that psychotic disorders comprise an extended phenotype of risk, with diagnosable disorders such as schizophrenia at one extreme end and nonclinical high, average, and low levels of schizotypy at the other.
“Though subject to much debate, the continuum model posits that psychotic disorders comprise an extended phenotype of risk, with diagnosable disorders such as schizophrenia at one extreme end and nonclinical high, average, and low levels of schizotypy (associated with decreasing levels of psychosis risk) at the other (33).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [33] Shevlin, 2007, The distribution of positive psychosis-like symptoms in the population: a latent class analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey, Schizophr Res source
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PremisecitationThere is a need to understand specific types of anhedonia.
“Consequently, there is a need to understand specific types of anhedonia (29), which drives the encompassing nature of the current review.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [29] Romer Thomsen, 2015, Reconceptualizing anhedonia: novel perspectives on balancing the pleasure networks in the human brain, Front Behav Neurosci source
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PremisecitationIn the psychosis continuum literature, social anhedonia is a feature of the negative dimension and is thought to be trait-like, enduring and stable over the illness course irrespective of symptom fluctuation.
“In the psychosis continuum literature, social anhedonia is a feature of the negative dimension and is thought to be trait-like, enduring and stable over the illness course irrespective of symptom fluctuation (5, 35).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [5] Blanchard, 2001, Diagnostic differences in social anhedonia: A longitudinal study of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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- cites [35] Fonseca-Pedrero, 2014, Measuring anhedonia in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: a selective update source
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PremisecitationUnderlying schizotypy is a multidimensional structure of personality traits broadly similar to the symptom presentation observed in psychotic disorders, supporting structural continuity between clinical and nonclinical experiences.
“Underlying schizotypy is a multidimensional structure of personality traits broadly similar to the symptom presentation observed in psychotic disorders, lending further support to structural continuity between clinical and nonclinical experiences [see also Ref. (34)].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [34] Thomas, 2018, Do schizotypy dimensions reflect the symptoms of schizophrenia, Aust N Z J Psychiatry source
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Premisenone givenA synthesis of current evidence on social anhedonia is lacking.
“Yet, despite the potential significance of social anhedonia in both clinical and nonclinical groups, a synthesis of current evidence is lacking.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationImproving working memory capacity in those with social anhedonia from the general population improves the anticipatory component of reward and leads to upregulation of brain regions related to monitoring and reward.
“In addition, improving working memory capacity in those with social anhedonia from the general population has been reported to improve the anticipatory component of reward and lead to upregulation of brain regions related to monitoring and reward (43, 44).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [43] Li, 2016, The neural transfer effect of working memory training to enhance hedonic processing in individuals with social anhedonia, Sci Rep source
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- cites [44] Li, 2016, The effects of working memory training on enhancing hedonic processing to affective rewards in individuals with high social anhedonia, Psychiatry Res source
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PremisecitationSelf-reported social anhedonia is associated with less willingness to engage in social interactions, reduced social skills, and less positive responses to an experimental social interaction.
“Llerena et al. (38) reported that self-reported social anhedonia was associated with less willingness to engage in social interactions, reduced social skills, and less positive responses to an experimental social interaction.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [38] Llerena, 2012, Social anhedonia and affiliation: examining behavior and subjective reactions within a social interaction, Psychiatry Res source
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PremisecitationNeurocognitive deficits are present in some healthy individuals who express social anhedonia, although these cognitive deficits do not appear to be related to general psychological, social, or occupational functioning.
“Neurocognitive deficits are present in some healthy individuals who express social anhedonia, although these cognitive deficits do not appear to be related to general (psychological, social, or occupational) functioning (40).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [40] Cohen, 2012, Neuropsychological functioning and social anhedonia: three-year follow-up data from a longitudinal community high risk study, J Psychiatr Res source
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InterpretationreasoningIn people with social anhedonia, the enjoyment of or wanting for social interaction is low or subjectively dampened but not entirely absent, since reduction below the desired level still triggers a sense of absence and the pain of loneliness.
“This suggests that while the enjoyment of, or wanting for, social interaction in people with social anhedonia is low, or subjectively dampened, it is not entirely absent, since reduction below the desired level still triggers a sense of absence and the pain of loneliness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationWithin the general population, social anhedonia is associated with negative social outcomes and is predictive of the risk of developing schizophrenia in the future.
“Within the general population, social anhedonia is associated with negative social outcomes, indicating poor engagement, maintenance, and affiliation for interpersonal relationships (45), and is predictive of the risk of developing schizophrenia in the future (13, 45).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [45] Kwapil, 2013, Prediction of psychopathology and functional impairment by positive and negative schizotypy in the Chapmans’ ten-year longitudinal study, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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- cites [13] Gooding, 2007, Rates of avoidant, schizotypal, schizoid and paranoid personality disorders in psychometric high-risk groups at 5-year follow-up, Schizophr Res source
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PremisecitationParticipants scoring highly on social anhedonia are less able to use social context and have poorer performance when social context is relevant in tasks assessing social cognition.
“The results from Pflum and Gooding (42) support this idea, since participants scoring highly on social anhedonia were less able to use social context and therefore had poorer performance when it was relevant in tasks assessing social cognition.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [42] Pflum, 2018, Context matters: social cognition task performance in psychometric schizotypes, Psychiatry Res source
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PremisecitationHigh social anhedonia is associated with poorer performance on a standard assessment of attentional vigilance, and attentional control mediates the relationship between social anhedonia and social functioning.
“Cohen et al. (40) reported that those scoring highly on social anhedonia had poorer performance on a standard assessment of attentional vigilance; similarly, Tully et al. (41) found that attentional control mediated the relationship between social anhedonia and social functioning.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [40] Cohen, 2012, Neuropsychological functioning and social anhedonia: three-year follow-up data from a longitudinal community high risk study, J Psychiatr Res source
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- cites [41] Tully, 2014, Attentional control mediates the relationship between social anhedonia and social impairment, Front Psychol source
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PremisecitationPeople from the general healthy community with high levels of social anhedonia report fewer personal relationships, are less likely to be in intimate relationships, prefer to be alone, and are less committed to and experience fewer positive feelings toward their partner when in a relationship.
“People drawn from the general healthy community with high levels of social anhedonia report fewer personal relationships (30, 36), are less likely to be in intimate relationships (37), prefer to be alone (30), are less committed to, and experience fewer positive feelings toward, their partner when in a relationship (31).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [30] Brown, 2007, When the need to belong goes wrong: the expression of social anhedonia and social anxiety in daily life, Psychol Sci source
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- cites [36] Blanchard, 2011, Social anhedonia and schizotypy in a community sample: the Maryland longitudinal study of schizotypy, Schizophr Bull source
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- cites [37] Mishlove, 1985, Social anhedonia in the prediction of psychosis proneness, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [31] Assaad, 2016, J Pers source
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PremisecitationPeople from the general population who score highly on social anhedonia report difficulties in controlling the effects of emotional information on behavior, less positive affect in response to positive pictures, videos, and words, and rate sad and neutral faces more negatively.
“People from the general population who score highly on social anhedonia report difficulties in controlling the effects of emotional information on behavior (50, 51), less positive affect in response to positive pictures, videos, and words (52–54), and rated sad and neutral faces more negatively (55).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked- cites [50] Martin, 2012, Social anhedonia, but not positive schizotypy, is associated with poor affective control, Pers Disord source
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- cites [51] Tully, 2012, Impaired executive control of emotional information in social anhedonia, Psychiatry Res source
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- cites [52] Kerns, 2008, Social and physical anhedonia and valence and arousal aspects of emotional experience, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [53] Leung, 2010, Is social anhedonia related to emotional responsivity and expressivity? A laboratory study in women, Schizophr Res source
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- cites [54] Mathews, 2006, Episodic memory for emotional and non-emotional words in individuals with anhedonia, Psychiatry Res source
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- cites [55] Harvey, 2009, Relation between emotional face memory and social anhedonia in schizophrenia, J Psychiatry Neurosci
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PremisecitationIn patients with schizophrenia, higher ratings on social anhedonia are associated with reduced feelings of interpersonal closeness and less willingness to interact, with subjective responses during interactions with the experimental partner being related to social functioning in general.
“Using an experimental social interaction paradigm, McCarthy et al. (47) reported that in patients with schizophrenia, higher ratings on social anhedonia were associated with reduced feelings of interpersonal closeness and less willingness to interact, with subjective responses during interactions with the experimental partner being related to social functioning in general.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [47] McCarthy, 2018, Negative symptoms and the formation of social affiliative bonds in schizophrenia, Schizophr Res source
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PremisecitationPatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who had high levels of social anhedonia had higher levels of symptomatology and lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, subjective recovery, social support, and poorer quality of life compared to patients with intact hedonic responses and an intermediary group.
“Patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who had high levels of social anhedonia had higher levels of symptomatology and lower levels of self-esteem, self-efficacy, subjective recovery, social support, and poorer quality of life compared to patients with intact hedonic responses and an intermediary group (49).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [49] Ritsner, 2018, The characterization of social anhedonia and its correlates in schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients, Psychiatry Res source
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PremisecitationPatients with schizophrenia have intact in-the-moment (consummatory) positive emotions in response to events but display deficits in positively anticipating future events compared to healthy controls.
“For example, in two studies (one using experience sampling methodology and the second employing cross-sectional questionnaires), Gard et al. (59) reported that patients with schizophrenia had intact in-the-moment (i.e., consummatory) positive emotions in response to events; however, they displayed deficits in positively anticipating future events when compared to healthy controls.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [59] Gard, 2007, Anhedonia in schizophrenia: distinctions between anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, Schizophr Res source
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InterpretationreasoningA breakdown in the learning component of reward may underpin diminished expression of anticipatory positive emotions in relation to positive future events, and a deficit in anticipatory reward could impair social approach behaviors and lead to less engagement in social activities and ultimately diminish social functioning.
“Collectively, perhaps, these studies point to a breakdown in the learning component of reward, which may underpin diminished expression of anticipatory positive emotions in relation to positive future events. In turn, a deficit in anticipatory reward could impair social approach behaviors and lead to less engagement in social activities and ultimately diminish social functioning.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationAnhedonia may be trait-like and predictive of both risk of onset and relapse for major depression.
“Emerging literature suggests that anhedonia may be trait-like and predictive of both risk of onset and relapse for major depression (68).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [68] Hasler, 2004, Discovering endophenotypes for major depression, Neuropsychopharmacology source
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PremisecitationPatients with schizophrenia who have social anhedonia are less able to modulate positive emotions, anticipate future pleasure, or use previous positive experiences to motivate future behaviors.
“Patients with schizophrenia who have social anhedonia are less able to modulate positive emotions (63), anticipate future pleasure (59), or use previous positive experiences to motivate future behaviors (63).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [63] Gold, 2008, Reward processing in schizophrenia: a deficit in the representation of value, Schizophr Bull source
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- cites [59] Gard, 2007, Anhedonia in schizophrenia: distinctions between anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, Schizophr Res source
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InterpretationcitationIn psychotic disorders, the enjoyment of social interactions is diminished but sensitivity to pain from inadequate social connections remains.
“Again, however, anhedonia in psychotic disorders is associated with high levels of loneliness (64), suggesting that the enjoyment of social interactions is diminished in people with psychosis, but sensitivity to pain from (inadequate) social connections remains.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [64] Badcock, 2015, Loneliness in psychotic disorders and its association with cognitive function and symptom profile, Schizophr Res source
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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationIn depression, reduced motivation for reward is thought to be driven by deficits in the anticipation of rewards, while enjoyment of in-the-moment consummatory reward remains intact.
“For instance, reduced motivation for reward is thought to be driven by deficits in the anticipation of rewards, while enjoyment of in-the-moment consummatory reward remains intact (74).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [74] Sherdell, 2012, Anticipatory pleasure predicts motivation for reward in major depression, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
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PremisecitationAs a continuous measure, social anhedonia is associated with depressive symptom severity and poor treatment response.
“As a continuous measure, social anhedonia is associated with depressive symptom severity (70–72) and poor treatment response (68, 73).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 5 sources checked- cites [70] Pelizza, 2009, Anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression: state or trait, Ann Gen Psychiatry source
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- cites [71] Rey, 2009, Schizotypy, depression, and anxiety in physical and social anhedonia, J Clin Psychology source
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- cites [72] Atherton, 2015, Predicting symptoms of depression from social anhedonia and emotion regulation, J Nerv Ment Dis source
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- cites [68] Hasler, 2004, Discovering endophenotypes for major depression, Neuropsychopharmacology source
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- cites [73] Gorwood, 2008, Neurobiological mechanisms of anhedonia, Dialogues Clin Neurosci source
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InterpretationcitationFocus on one's own internal states reduces engagement with the social environment, blunts in-the-moment emotional responses, and diminishes social skills.
“Focus on one’s own internal states reduces engagement with the social environment, blunts in-the-moment emotional responses, and diminishes social skills.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationReduced emotional facial expression and less smiling are reported in depression and may exacerbate social anhedonia.
“For instance, reduced emotional facial expression and less smiling (77) are reported in depression and may exacerbate social anhedonia (53, 78).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [77] Girard, 2013, Social risk and depression: evidence from manual and automatic facial expression analysis
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- cites [53] Leung, 2010, Is social anhedonia related to emotional responsivity and expressivity? A laboratory study in women, Schizophr Res source
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- cites [78] Kadison, 2015, Subtypes of anhedonia and facial electromyography response to negative affective pictures in non-psychiatric adults, Cogn Neuropsychiatry source
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Premisenone givenStudies concerning social anhedonia in those with depression tend to capture behavioral correlates and not the cognitive underpinnings.
“However, studies concerning social anhedonia in those with depression tend to capture behavioral correlates and not the cognitive underpinnings.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationIn a working memory training program for those with psychometrically defined depression, ratings of depression decreased and hedonic experiences increased, but social anhedonia remained the same pre- and posttraining.
“In a working memory training program for those with psychometrically defined depression, although ratings of depression decreased and hedonic experiences increased, social anhedonia remained the same pre- and posttraining (79).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [79] Zhang, 2019, Working memory training can improve anhedonia in college students with subsyndromal depressive symptoms source
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InterpretationreasoningThe possibility that working memory training could improve anticipatory reward in those with anhedonia suggests that cognitive capacities could be a target to improve positive emotions toward social engagement and may in the longer term lead to changes in social behaviors.
“However, the possibility that working memory training could improve anticipatory reward in those with anhedonia, in general, suggests that cognitive capacities could be a target to improve positive emotions toward social engagement and may in the longer term lead to changes in social behaviors.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationAnhedonia in general is a focus of interest in eating disorders, though developing a single unifying framework is proving a challenge.
“Anhedonia, in general, is also a focus of interest in eating disorders, though developing a single unifying framework is proving a challenge (87).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [87] Dunlop, 2016, Targeting neural endophenotypes of eating disorders with non-invasive brain stimulation, Front Neurosci source
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PremisecitationSocial and emotional difficulties in eating disorders include increased sensitivity to social rejection and alexithymia, along with poor social cognition and decreased sensitivity to social rewards.
“These include increased sensitivity to social rejection and alexithymia, along with poor social cognition and decreased sensitivity to social rewards (93–95).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [93] Cardi, 2013, Social reward and rejection sensitivity in eating disorders: an investigation of attentional bias and early experiences, World J Biol Psychiatry source
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- cites [94] Oldershaw, 2011, The socio-emotional processing stream in Anorexia Nervosa, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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- cites [95] Treasure, 2013, The cognitive-interpersonal maintenance model of anorexia nervosa revisited: a summary of the evidence for cognitive, socio-emotional and interpersonal predisposing and perpetuating factors, J Eat Disord source
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PremisecitationSome forms of eating disorders may be associated with normal levels of wanting but low levels of liking food, while bulimia nervosa may be associated with an excessive wanting of food that is not followed by a typical sense of pleasure.
“Some forms of eating disorders may be associated with normal levels of wanting but low levels of liking food, while BN may be associated with an excessive wanting of food that is not followed by a typical sense of pleasure (82).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [82] Berridge, 2010, The tempted brain eats: pleasure and desire circuits in obesity and eating disorders, Brain Res source
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InterpretationcitationWhile improvements can be gained in the anticipation of future events through cognitive remediation, it might be more difficult to change patterns of behavioral responses in general.
“This study suggests, that while improvements can be gained in the anticipation of future events through cognitive remediation, it might be more difficult to change patterns of behavioral responses in general.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisereasoningHedonic responses in eating disorders have consistently been separated into anticipatory and consummatory components.
“However, given the focus on reward as a core concern in the nature of eating disorders, hedonic responses have consistently been separated into anticipatory and consummatory components.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationPeople with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have significantly higher scores on the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale than those without eating disorders, while those who had recovered from anorexia nervosa had intermediate levels of social anhedonia.
“The results showed that people with AN and BN have significantly higher scores on the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale than those without eating disorders (96–98), while those who had recovered from AN had intermediate levels of social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [96] Tchanturia, 2012, Altered social hedonic processing in eating disorders, Int J Eat Disord source
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- cites [97] Harrison, 2014, Social anhedonia and work and social functioning in the acute and recovered phases of eating disorders, Psychiatry Res source
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- cites [98] Deborde, 2006, [Relations between alexithymia and anhedonia: a study in eating disordered and control subjects], Encephale source
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PremisecitationWomen with anorexia nervosa avoid looking at the faces and eyes of others and find them less rewarding compared to non-eating disorder controls.
“Evidence from behavioral studies suggests women with AN avoid looking at the faces and eyes of others and find them less rewarding compared to non-eating disorder controls (100), while at the neural level, areas of hypo- and hyperactivation have been identified in response to positive and negative social exchanges, respectively (101, 102).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [100] Watson, 2010, Altered social reward and attention in anorexia nervosa, Front Psychol source
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PremisecitationLevels of social anhedonia do not differ between women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are highly correlated with illness chronicity, and significantly predict problems with social and occupational functioning.
“Levels of social anhedonia do not differ between women with AN and BN (99), are highly correlated with illness chronicity, and significantly predict problems with social and occupational functioning (97).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [99] Eiber, 2002, Hedonic response to sucrose solutions and the fear of weight gain in patients with eating disorders, Psychiatry Res source
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- cites [97] Harrison, 2014, Social anhedonia and work and social functioning in the acute and recovered phases of eating disorders, Psychiatry Res source
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PremisecitationElevated rates of both ASD traits and psychotic symptoms are present in patients with eating disorders.
“Indeed, elevated rates of both ASD traits and psychotic symptoms are present in patients with eating disorders (105–107).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [105] Westwood, 2017, Clinical evaluation of autistic symptoms in women with anorexia nervosa, Mol Autism source
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- cites [106] Westwood, 2017, Autism spectrum disorder in anorexia nervosa: an updated literature review, Curr Psychiatry Rep source
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- cites [107] Alves Pereira, 2016, The co-occurrence of eating disorders and psychosis, Eur Psychiatry source
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PremisecitationOverall, a tendency to both reduced consummatory and motivational reward was noted in PTSD, especially in females with PTSD and in response to positive social stimuli compared to nonsocial stimuli, suggestive of social anhedonia.
“Overall, however, a tendency to both reduced consummatory and motivational reward was noted, especially in females with PTSD and in response to positive social stimuli compared to nonsocial stimuli, suggestive of social anhedonia (118).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [118] Nawijn, 2015, Reward functioning in PTSD: a systematic review exploring the mechanisms underlying anhedonia, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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InterpretationcitationIn contrast to ASD, impaired enjoyment of social interactions in eating disorders may be related to difficulties identifying and expressing feelings, as alexithymia scores were found to be strongly associated with social anhedonia in eating disorders.
“For example, alexithymia scores were found to be strongly associated with social anhedonia in eating disorders; thus, in contrast to ASD (109), impaired enjoyment of social interactions in eating disorders may be related to difficulties identifying and expressing feelings (96).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checkedMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationGreater anhedonia in PTSD has been linked to an increased risk of psychotic disorder and poor social functioning.
“Greater anhedonia in PTSD has been linked to an increased risk of psychotic disorder (112, 113) and poor social functioning (114).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [112] Kashdan, 2006, Anhedonia and emotional numbing in combat veterans with PTSD, Behav Res Ther source
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- cites [113] Powers, 2016, Childhood trauma PTSD. and psychosis: findings from a highly traumatized, minority sample, Child Abuse Negl source
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- cites [114] Cook, 2004, Posttraumatic stress disorder and current relationship functioning among World War II ex-prisoners of war, J Fam Psychol source
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InterpretationcitationReduced motivation to approach socially rewarding stimuli may be particularly evident in those with PTSD when greater effort is needed to gain reward, suggesting reduced sensitivity in the cognitive underpinning for 'wanting' social connections.
“Reduced motivation to approach socially rewarding stimuli may be particularly evident in those with PTSD when greater effort is needed to gain reward (118), suggesting reduced sensitivity in the cognitive underpinning for “wanting” social connections.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [118] Nawijn, 2015, Reward functioning in PTSD: a systematic review exploring the mechanisms underlying anhedonia, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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PremisecitationASD and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping features of social dysfunction, reflecting both shared and distinct component processes.
“Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental disorders with overlapping feat ures of social dysfunction (128), reflecting both shared and distinct component processes (129, 130).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [128] Ford, 2014, Factor analysis demonstrates a common schizoidal phenotype within autistic and schizotypal tendency: implications for neuroscientific studies, Front Psychiatry source
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- cites [129] Morrison, 2017, Distinct profiles of social skill in adults with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, Autism Res source
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- cites [130] Russell-Smith, 2013, Unique sets of social and mood characteristics differentiate autistic and negative schizotypy traits in a young adult non-clinical sample, Pers Individ Dif source
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Premisenone givenDespite the well-recognized link between early childhood trauma and depression, schizotypy, and schizophrenia, the role of negative affective interference has received scant attention transdiagnostically and has not been considered in relation to social anhedonia specifically.
“However, despite the well-recognized link between early childhood trauma and depression (125), schizotypy (126), and schizophrenia (127), the role of negative affective interference has received scant attention transdiagnostically and has not been considered in relation to social anhedonia specifically.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [125] Li, 2015, Maltreatment in childhood substantially increases the risk of adult depression and anxiety in prospective cohort studies: systematic review, meta-analysis, and proportional attributable fractions, Psychol Med source
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- cites [126] Velikonja, 2015, Childhood trauma and schizotypy: a systematic literature review, Psychol Med source
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- cites [127] Mayo, 2017, The role of trauma and stressful life events among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: a review, Front Psychiatry source
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PremisecitationEarly clinical descriptions of autism noted a clear lack of interest in and pleasure from social stimuli, which are also associated with autistic traits in the general population, suggesting that social anhedonia may be a stable part of the broader autism phenotype.
“Early clinical descriptions of autism (131) noted a clear lack of interest in and pleasure from social stimuli, which are also associated with autistic traits in the general population, suggesting that social anhedonia may be a stable part of the broader autism phenotype (132).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [131] Kanner, 1943, Autistic disturbances of affective contact, Nervous Child
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- cites [132] Novacek, 2016, Hedonic capacity in the broader autism phenotype: should social anhedonia be considered a characteristic feature, Front Psychol source
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PremisecitationWomen with PTSD report less positive affect in response to positive interpersonal (social) memories, along with lowered neural activation in ventral striatal reward networks responsive to rewarding and socially salient stimuli.
“For example, women with PTSD report less positive affect in response to positive interpersonal (social) memories, along with lowered neural activation in ventral striatal reward networks responsive to rewarding and socially salient stimuli (122).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [122] Felmingham, 2014, Reduced amygdala and ventral striatal activity to happy faces in PTSD is associated with emotional numbing, PLoS One source
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PremisecitationFindings indicate a specific problem of social anhedonia in adolescents, with broader reductions in social and nonsocial pleasure in adults with ASD.
“Of note, findings appear to indicate a specific problem of social anhedonia in adolescents (143), with broader reductions in social and nonsocial pleasure in adults with ASD (132, 143).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [143] Chevallier, 2012, Brief report: selective social anhedonia in high functioning autism, J Autism Dev Disord source
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- cites [132] Novacek, 2016, Hedonic capacity in the broader autism phenotype: should social anhedonia be considered a characteristic feature, Front Psychol source
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InterpretationcitationSocial anhedonia might be present to some degree as a pediatric vulnerability marker for psychopathology, but it appears to be more core to the presentation of ASD.
“This suggests that while social anhedonia might be present to some degree as a pediatric vulnerability marker for psychopathology, it appears to be more core to the presentation of ASD.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationScores on the Autism Spectrum Quotient and the Introvertive Anhedonia subscale of the O-LIFE are positively correlated, indicating a substantial association between autistic traits and social anhedonia in the general community.
“For example, Rawlings and Locarnini (133) showed that scores on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (139) (measuring autistic traits) and the Introvertive Anhedonia subscale of the O-LIFE (140) were positively correlated, indicating a substantial association between autistic traits and social anhedonia in the general community.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [133] Rawlings, 2008, Dimensional schizotypy, autism, and unusual word associations in artists and scientists, J Res Pers source
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- cites [139] Woodbury-Smith, 2005, Screening adults for Asperger Syndrome using the AQ: a preliminary study of its diagnostic validity in clinical practice, J Autism Dev Disord source
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- cites [140] Mason, 2006, The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE): further description and extended norms, Schizophr Res source
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PremisecitationExperimental studies support the idea that a primary deficit in social motivation in ASD, linked to neuronal and hormonal circuitry, leads to difficulties seeking, experiencing, and learning about rewards from social interactions, leading to subsequent abnormalities in the development of the neural pathways underpinning reward and social functioning impairments.
“Alternatively, experimental studies support the idea that a primary deficit in social motivation in ASD (linked to neuronal and hormonal circuitry) leads to difficulties seeking, experiencing, and learning about rewards from social interactions (147–150), leading to subsequent abnormalities in the development of the neural pathways underpinning reward and social functioning impairments.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [147] Delmonte, 2012, Social and monetary reward processing in autism spectrum disorders, Mol Autism source
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- cites [148] Chevallier, 2012, The social motivation theory of autism, Trends Cogn Sci source
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- cites [149] Dubey, 2015, Measuring the value of social engagement in adults with and without autism, Mol Autism source
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- cites [150] Kohls, 2012, Social ‘wanting’ dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications, J Neurodev Disord source
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PremisecitationIn psychiatric referrals for young people aged 6 to 18 years, those with ASD had higher rates of social anhedonia, while across all young people referred, social anhedonia was related to higher social skill deficits, social anxiety, depression, and psychotic symptoms.
“In comparing psychiatric referrals for young people aged between 6 and 18 years, Gadow and Garman (145) found that those with ASD had higher rates of social anhedonia, while across all young people referred to the service, social anhedonia was related to higher social skill deficits, social anxiety, depression, and psychotic symptoms.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [145] Gadow, 2018, Social anhedonia in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and psychiatry referrals, J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol source
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PremisecitationAdolescents with ASD reported significantly less enjoyment of social situations compared to typical controls, while pleasure from other sources did not differ.
“For example, adolescents with ASD reported significantly less enjoyment of social situations (as measured with the Pleasure Scale) (144) compared to typical controls, while pleasure from other sources did not differ.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [144] Kazdin, 1989, Evaluation of the Pleasure Scale in the assessment of anhedonia in children, J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry source
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PremisecitationIt is difficult to isolate social anhedonia specifically from other negative schizotypy traits or differentiate between the liking and wanting components of anhedonia in studies of autism.
“In these studies, it is difficult to isolate social anhedonia specifically from other negative schizotypy traits (such as social anxiety) (130) or differentiate between the liking and wanting components of anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [130] Russell-Smith, 2013, Unique sets of social and mood characteristics differentiate autistic and negative schizotypy traits in a young adult non-clinical sample, Pers Individ Dif source
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PremisecitationEvidence linking dopamine and social anhedonia comes from genetic association studies in relatives of patients with schizophrenia and from dopamine D2 receptor binding availability along the psychosis continuum.
“Evidence linking dopamine and social anhedonia can be drawn from genetic association studies in relatives of patients with schizophrenia (158) and dopamine D2 receptor binding availability along the psychosis continuum (159).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [158] Docherty, 2008, Anhedonia as a phenotype for the Val158Met COMT polymorphism in relatives of patients with schizophrenia, J Abnorm Psychol source
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- cites [159] Eisenstein, 2017, Preliminary evidence that negative symptom severity relates to multilocus genetic profile for dopamine signaling capacity and D2 receptor binding in healthy controls and in schizophrenia, J Psychiatr Res source
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InterpretationcitationGiven that there are diverse neurological correlates underpinning the pleasure cycle, it may be that there are multiple biological pathways underpinning social anhedonia, which can account for its presentation in multiple disorders of distinct etiological mechanisms.
“Given that there are diverse neurological correlates underpinning the pleasure cycle (152), it may be that there are multiple biological pathways underpinning social anhedonia, which can account for its presentation in multiple disorders of distinct etiological mechanisms.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [152] Berridge, 2009, Dissecting components of reward: ‘liking’, ‘wanting’, and learning, Curr Opin Pharmacol source
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InterpretationreasoningUnderstanding whether social anhedonia is underpinned by one mechanism that is consistent across all disorders or whether there are multiple pathways that can lead to the same outcome holds important treatment and etiological implications.
“Understanding whether social anhedonia is underpinned by one mechanism that is consistent across all disorders or whether there are multiple pathways that can lead to the same outcome holds important treatment and etiological implications.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe dopamine and opioid systems interact to underpin social bonding behaviors, with the nucleus accumbens providing an area of convergence for neural pathways.
“However, the dopamine and opioid systems are also known to interact to underpin social bonding behaviors (166), with the nucleus accumbens providing an area of convergence for neural pathways (167).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [166] Resendez, 2016, Dopamine and opioid systems interact within the nucleus accumbens to maintain monogamous pair bonds, Elife source
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- cites [167] Depue, 2005, A neurobehavioral model of affiliative bonding: implications for conceptualizing a human trait of affiliation, Behav Brain Sci source
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PremisecitationThe DISC1-Q31L mutant mouse model is characterized by both abnormalities in nucleus accumbens structure and socially anhedonic-like behaviors.
“The DISC1-Q31L mutant mouse model is characterized by both abnormalities in nucleus accumbens structure and socially anhedonic-like behaviors (168).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [168] Lipina, 2013, Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 Gln31Leu polymorphism results in social anhedonia associated with monoaminergic imbalance and reduction of CREB and beta-arrestin-1,2 in the nucleus accumbens in a mouse model of depression, Neuropsychopharmacology source
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PremisecitationEvidence for the role of the opioid system in social anhedonia comes from genetic knockout and pharmacological models in mice and from a genetic association study in humans.
“Evidence for the role of the opioid system in social anhedonia comes from genetic knockout and pharmacological models in mice (164) and a genetic association study in humans (165).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [164] Cinque, 2012, Modeling socially anhedonic syndromes: genetic and pharmacological manipulation of opioid neurotransmission in mice, Transl Psychiatry source
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- cites [165] Troisi, 2011, Social hedonic capacity is associated with the A118G polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) in adult healthy volunteers and psychiatric patients, Soc Neurosci source
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- Rests on an assumption: The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.
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InterpretationcitationThe opioid system has a role in fear consolidation and may have specific relevance for the presence of social anhedonia in PTSD.
“The opioid system has a role in fear consolidation and, therefore, may have specific relevance for the presence of social anhedonia in PTSD in particular (163).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [163] Bali, 2015, Stress and opioids: role of opioids in modulating stress-related behavior and effect of stress on morphine conditioned place preference, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source
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- Rests on an assumption: The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationIndividuals scoring highly on social anhedonia scales had lower levels of activity in the VLPFC and reported lower levels of positive affect during their daily lives.
“In addition, Hooker et al. (171) found that those scoring highly on social anhedonia scales had lower levels of activity in the VLPFC and reported lower levels of positive affect during their daily lives.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [171] Hooker, 2014, Neural activity to positive expressions predicts daily experience of schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms in adults with high social anhedonia, J Abnorm Psychol source
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PremisecitationAbnormal connectivity has been reported in adolescents, in those with depression, and in healthy volunteers who score highly on self-report measures of social anhedonia or anticipatory/consummatory anhedonia.
“Abnormal connectivity has been reported in adolescents (173), in those with depression (174), and in healthy volunteers (8, 175, 176) who score highly on self-report measures of social anhedonia or anticipatory/consummatory anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [173] Healey, 2014, Social anhedonia and medial prefrontal response to mutual liking in late adolescents, Brain Cogn source
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- cites [174] Yang, 2017, White matter microstructural abnormalities and their association with anticipatory anhedonia in depression, Psychiatry Res source
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- cites [8] Dodell-Feder, 2014, The neural basis of theory of mind and its relationship to social functioning and social anhedonia in individuals with schizophrenia, Neuroimage Clin source
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May combine two claims.
PremisecitationWang et al. reported inverse correlations between social anhedonia and cortical thickness in the post central gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus after controlling for physical anhedonia, but no correlations with cortical thickness for areas involved in the reward network.
“Contrastingly, Wang et al. (177) reported inverse correlations between social anhedonia and cortical thickness in the post central gyrus and left inferior parietal gyrus (after controlling for physical anhedonia) but no correlations with cortical thickness for areas involved in the reward network.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [177] Wang, 2014, Distinct structural neural patterns of trait physical and social anhedonia: evidence from cortical thickness, subcortical volumes and inter-regional correlations, Psychiatry Res source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationIn both healthy volunteers and patients with depression, higher levels of social anhedonia were related to reduced gray matter volume in the bilateral caudate nucleus; these results remained controlling for other symptoms and medication status in participants diagnosed with depression.
“On the other hand, Enneking et al. report that in both healthy volunteers and patients with depression, higher levels of social anhedonia were related to reduced gray matter volume in the bilateral caudate nucleus (178); these results remained controlling for other symptoms and medication status in the participants diagnosed with depression.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [178] Enneking, 2018, Social anhedonia in major depressive disorder: a symptom-specific neuroimaging approach, Neuropsychopharmacology source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningGenetic, neurobiological, and imaging studies collectively point to the importance of emotional regulation, reward circuitry, and social anhedonia.
“Genetic, neurobiological, and imaging studies collectively point to the importance of emotional regulation, reward circuitry, and social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationAcceptance and social inclusion by peers are particularly salient in early adolescents, while emerging adults may be more sensitive to intimacy cues from potential romantic partners.
“Acceptance and social inclusion by peers, for example, assume particular salience in early adolescents, while emerging adults may be more sensitive to intimacy cues, such as those from potential romantic partners (185).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [185] Meier, 2009, Romantic relationships from adolescence to young adulthood: evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Sociol Q source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningLike in adults, the ventral striatum is important in determining response to rewards, with social context, life experience, and expression of anhedonia mediating or moderating responsiveness.
“These studies suggest that, like in adults, the ventral striatum is important in determining response to rewards, with social context, life experience, and expression of anhedonia mediating or moderating responsiveness.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationDiminished ventral striatum activity in response to anticipation of monetary reward is associated with anhedonia in adolescents, and ventral striatum activity in response to reward may be moderated by exposure to early life stress.
“Diminished activity in the ventral striatum in response to anticipation of monetary reward has been associated with anhedonia in adolescents, and ventral striatum activity in response to reward may be moderated by exposure to early life stress (192).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [192] Corral-Frias, 2015, Stress-related anhedonia is associated with ventral striatum reactivity to reward and transdiagnostic psychiatric symptomatology, Psychol Med source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationCortical mechanisms involved in processing social and nonsocial rewards follow differential trajectories with age and gender, which can give rise to an imbalance between heightened motivation and diminished cognitive control during adolescence.
“At the neural level, the cortical mechanisms involved in the processing of social and nonsocial rewards follow differential trajectories with age and gender, which can give rise to an imbalance between (heightened) motivation and (diminished) cognitive control during adolescence (191).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [191] Casey, 2011, Braking and accelerating of the adolescent brain, J Res Adolesc source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale for Adolescents (ACIPS-A) measures the discrete wanting and liking component of reward and may help classify adolescents in the general community who are or are not at risk and may benefit from early intervention.
“For example, the Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale for Adolescents (ACIPS-A) (19) measures the discrete wanting and liking component of reward and may help classify adolescents in the general community who are/are not at risk (e.g., of psychosis) (195) and may benefit from early intervention.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [19] Gooding, 2016, Assessing social anhedonia in adolescence: the ACIPS-A in a community sample, Eur. Psychiatry source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [195] Fonseca-Pedrero, 2016, Classifying risk status of non-clinical adolescents using psychometric indicators for psychosis spectrum disorders, Psychiatry Res source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningAcross all studies, patient groups regardless of diagnosis report higher levels of social anhedonia compared to healthy controls, although psychosis continuum work highlights wide variation in social anhedonia scores in healthy volunteer samples.
“Across all studies, patient groups, regardless of diagnosis, report higher levels of social anhedonia compared to healthy controls, although it needs to be noted that the psychosis continuum work highlights wide variation in social anhedonia scores in healthy volunteer samples.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationcitationSocial anhedonia presents across multiple psychological disorders and is detectable to variable degree in the general healthy population.
“Social anhedonia presents across multiple psychological disorders and is detectable to variable degree in the general healthy population (14).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [14] Miettunen, 2012, Predicting depression with psychopathology and temperament traits: the northern Finland 1966 birth cohort, Depress Res Treat source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe psychosis continuum seems to be characterized by deficits in anticipatory but not consummatory systems, although not consistently, while PTSD, depression, and ASD reflect difficulties in both, and the picture for eating disorders appears complex with inconsistent findings reflecting symptom and etiological heterogeneity.
“Broadly speaking, the psychosis continuum seems to be characterized by deficits in anticipatory but not consummatory systems (although not consistently) (59), while PTSD (121), depression (74), and ASD reflect difficulties in both and the picture for eating disorders appears to be complex with inconsistent findings reflecting symptom and etiological heterogeneity.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [59] Gard, 2007, Anhedonia in schizophrenia: distinctions between anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, Schizophr Res source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [121] Lieberman, 2017, Impact of posttraumatic stress symptom dimensions on psychophysiological reactivity to threat and reward, J Psychiatr Res source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [74] Sherdell, 2012, Anticipatory pleasure predicts motivation for reward in major depression, J Abnorm Child Psychol source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenIn some disorders such as eating disorders, anhedonia is generalized across both social and nonsocial domains, while in others such as PTSD, anhedonia may be relatively specific to social environments and interactions.
“In some disorders (i.e., eating disorders), anhedonia is present but generalized across both social and nonsocial domains, while for others, such as PTSD, anhedonia may be relatively specific to social environments and interactions.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationnone givenSocial anhedonia may present as a trait temperament characteristic in some individuals, while for others it may be linked to the co-occurrence of depressive symptomatology.
“Social anhedonia, specifically, may present as a trait temperament characteristic in some individuals, while for others, it may be linked to the co-occurrence of depressive symptomatology.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
PremisecitationRecent psychometric work revealed that negative affect and social anhedonia load on separate dimensions of the broader schizotypy construct, while other works suggest that social anhedonia loads onto both positive and negative features of schizotypy.
“Support for this proposal comes from recent psychometric work, which revealed that negative affect and social anhedonia load on separate dimensions of the broader schizotypy construct (203), while other works suggest that social anhedonia loads onto both positive and negative features of schizotypy (204, 205).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [203] Christensen, 2018, Exploratory graph analysis of the multidimensional schizotypy scale source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [204] Cihan, 2015, Exploring the role of social anhedonia in the positive and negative dimensions of schizotypy in a non-clinical sample, Noropsikiyatri Ars source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [205] Smith, 2016, Further examination of the factor structure of the Chapman Psychosis Proneness Scales (CPPS), Psychiatry Res source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationLow pleasure beliefs are documented in relation to social anhedonia and appear to play a role in predicting the likelihood that future pleasurable events will occur.
“In addition, low pleasure beliefs are documented in relation to social anhedonia (199), and these low pleasure beliefs appear to play a role in predicting the likelihood that future pleasurable events will occur (200).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [199] Yang, 2018, Low-pleasure beliefs in patients with schizophrenia and individuals with social anhedonia, Schizophr Res source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [200] Hu, 2018, Mediation effect of beliefs about pleasure and emotional experience between social anhedonia and prediction of pleasant events, Psychiatry Res source
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Premisenone givenStudies on social anhedonia are largely correlational or observational in nature, regardless of whether they consider clinical or nonclinical samples.
“These are largely correlational or observational in nature, regardless of whether they are considering clinical or nonclinical samples.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationAn emerging body of work demonstrates detrimental effects of loneliness and social disconnection on physical and mental health.
“It is becoming particularly important to understand this given the emerging body of work demonstrating the detrimental effects of loneliness and social disconnection on physical and mental health (3, 64, 206).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [3] Cacioppo, 2015, Loneliness: clinical import and interventions, Perspect Psychol Sci source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [64] Badcock, 2015, Loneliness in psychotic disorders and its association with cognitive function and symptom profile, Schizophr Res source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [206] Cacioppo, 2014, The neuroendocrinology of social isolation, Annu Rev Psychol source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningThere are cognitive biases related to social anhedonia, which could influence the likelihood of similarly biased responding on social report scales.
“These studies point to there being cognitive biases related to social anhedonia, which could influence the likelihood of similarly biased responding on social report scales.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationSocial anhedonia needs consideration as a distinct form of anhedonia with separable neural substrates.
“Furthermore, social anhedonia needs consideration as a distinct form of anhedonia—with separable neural substrates (201).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [201] Langvik, 2019, Psychometric properties of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and a facet-level analysis of the relationship between anhedonia and extraversion in a nonclinical sample, Psychol Rep source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationStudies point to those with social anhedonia seeking out personal relationships, albeit with reduced positive experiences; therefore, those with social anhedonia have some motivation for belongingness and are aware when belongingness needs are unmet (i.e., they feel lonely).
“However, studies point to those with social anhedonia seeking out personal relationships, albeit with reduced positive experiences (31); therefore, those with social anhedonia have some motivation for belongingness and are aware when belongingness needs are unmet (i.e., they feel lonely).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [31] Assaad, 2016, J Pers source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationThere is increasing evidence for subjective deficits in self (emotion) regulation in social anhedonia, while objective performance remains intact; these subjective deficits would be sufficient to bias the processing of social information.
“There is increasing evidence for subjective deficits in self (emotion) regulation in social anhedonia, while objective performance remains intact (198); these subjective deficits, however, would be sufficient to bias the processing of social information.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [198] Li, 2019, The subjective-objective deficit paradox in schizotypy extends to emotion regulation and awareness, J Psychiatr Res source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Premisenone givenNegative schizotypy is a broader construct than merely social anhedonia and also encapsulates social anxiety, flattened affect, and anhedonia in general.
“Negative schizotypy is a broader construct than merely social anhedonia and also encapsulates social anxiety, flattened affect, and anhedonia in general.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
InterpretationreasoningIndividuals with social anhedonia may require larger perceived gains before they engage in social approach behaviors.
“Individuals with social anhedonia may require larger perceived gains before they engage in social approach behaviors.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Premisenone givenThose with social anhedonia do engage in significant social relationships.
“the number of studies that demonstrated those with social anhedonia do engage in significant social relationships”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
InterpretationcitationThe socialization of reward processes may represent a point of psychological vulnerability, particularly how children learn to express and receive reward from social interactions.
“The socialization of reward processes may represent a point of psychological vulnerability (209), particularly how children learn to express and receive reward from social interactions.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [209] Walker, 2017, Adolescence and reward: making sense of neural and behavioral changes amid the chaos, J Neurosci source
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).
Interpretationnone givenNeurobiological and neural correlates implicated in emotional regulation and reward provide likely key biological pathways for social anhedonia.
“The neurobiological and neural correlates implicated in emotional regulation and reward provide likely key biological pathways for social anhedonia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
The paper relies on this without support.
Adolescence is a particularly important period of social and neural development and may provide a valuable window on the developmental origins of social anhedonia.
“Adolescence is a particularly important period of social and neural development and may provide a valuable window on the developmental origins of social anhedonia.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders.
“Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders; therefore, understanding the intricacies of social anhedonia will help to inform treatment and prevention strategies for a range of diagnostic categories.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Anhedonia is a core component of depressive disorders.
“Anhedonia is a core component of depressive disorders. However, there is limited research on social anhedonia specifically.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.
“The opioid system mediates both approach and avoidance behaviors in humans and animals.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
People diagnosed with anxiety or depression experience social anhedonia, which is associated with greater social impairments, even controlling for anxiety and depression severity.
“People diagnosed with these conditions also experience social anhedonia – loss of interest in pursuing or pleasure in response to social activities – which is associated with greater social impairments,(31) even controlling for anxiety and depression severity.(32)”
AMP may offer a new approach for remediating social disconnection in anxiety and depressive disorders, and possibly other psychiatric conditions characterized by diminished social reward responsivity.
“AMP may therefore offer a new approach for remediating social disconnection in anxiety and depressive disorders, and possibly other psychiatric conditions characterized by diminished social reward responsivity.(31)”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Depression is described as having both intact and impaired consummatory reward
MajorThe depression section says in-the-moment consummatory enjoyment remains intact, but the general discussion says depression involves difficulties in both anticipatory and consummatory reward.
“reduced motivation for reward is thought to be driven by deficits in the anticipation of rewards, while enjoyment of in-the-moment consummatory reward remains intact (74).”
“PTSD (121), depression (74), and ASD reflect difficulties in both”
The citation lists haven’t been fetched yet
References 211 · Cited by 165
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Assaad, 2016, J Pers, 86, 10.1111/jopy.12300| · DOI
- 2013, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM 5
- Authors
- Barkus, E., & Badcock, J. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Barkus, Emma
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2019-04-24
- Volume
- 10
- Pages
- 216-216
- ISSN
- 1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6491888
- OpenAlex
- W2940551659
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 211
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 2.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (acceptedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- social anhedonia, transdiagnostic mechanisms, social reward, schizotypy, schizophrenia, psychosis continuum, depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, loneliness, social withdrawal, social functioning, adolescence
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