Introduction: Anhedonia, defined as a loss of interest and pleasure in previously
enjoyable activities, is a core symptom of depression that predicts a poor treatment response
in adolescents. We know little about the cognitive vulnerability factors that contribute to the
development of anhedonia in youth. This cross-sectional and ...
Introduction: Anhedonia, defined as a loss of interest and pleasure in previously
enjoyable activities, is a core symptom of depression that predicts a poor treatment response
in adolescents. We know little about the cognitive vulnerability factors that contribute to the
development of anhedonia in youth. This cross-sectional and longitudinal survey study
investigated the link between anhedonia symptoms and cognitive appraisal of positive affect.
Methods: Baseline data were collected from 392 secondary school students in the UK (aged
13-16, 54% Female), 170 of whom went on to complete the three-month follow-up
assessment (a 43% response rate). Participants rated their anhedonia symptoms and appraisal
styles which were measured in terms of use of amplifying appraisals, dampening appraisals,
and fear of positive emotion. Results: At baseline, greater anhedonia was significantly
associated with increased levels of dampening and reduced levels of amplifying but was not
significantly related to fear of positive emotion. Prospectively, greater baseline levels of
amplifying uniquely predicted lower anhedonia severity at three-month follow-up, and viceversa. There was no evidence for reciprocal prospective associations between anhedonia and,
appraisal styles of dampening and fear of positive emotion. Conclusion: These results
indicate that cognitive appraisal of positive affect is associated with concurrent and to some
extent can predict future symptoms of anhedonia in youth