Association of Physical and Social Anhedonia with Depression in the Acute Phase of Schizophrenia

Background/Aims: Researchers have shown interest in the association between anhedonia and depression in schizophrenia. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between physical and social anhedonia with depression in a sample of inpatients with schizophrenia in the acute phase of their illness. Methods: Sixty-two patients with acute schizophrenia consecutively admitted at the Eginition Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens were assessed using the revised Physical Anhedonia Scale, the revised Social Anhedonia Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. Results: The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia score correlated with both physical anhedonia and social anhedonia ratings. The revised Social Anhedonia Scale score significantly correlated to self-depreciation, guilty ideas of reference, pathological guilt, early wakening, suicidality and observed depression. The revised Physical Anhedonia Scale score significantly correlated with depressive mood, self-depreciation, pathological guilt and observed depression. Self-depreciation, pathological guilt and observed depression were correlated with both social and physical anhedonia. Conclusion: Depression in schizophrenia and anhedonia may overlap, and it could therefore be difficult to clinically differentiate them, especially in acute schizophrenia patients.