Anhedonia and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in psychiatric outpatients: The role of acuity

Mariah Hawes, Igor Galynker, Shira Barzilay, Zimri S. Yaseen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Anhedonia—impairment related to the experience of pleasure—has been identified as a potential risk factor for suicide, with some mixed findings. The current study sought to clarify the role of acuity of anhedonia in the relationship between anhedonia and suicidal thoughts and behaviors by comparing acutely and chronically anhedonic subjects on severity of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA) history. Methods: Psychiatric outpatients (N = 395) were administered the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation and a modified version of the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHPS); SI measures were readministered at a 1-month follow-up (N = 289, 73%). Participants were classified as acutely anhedonic, chronically anhedonic and nonanhedonic based on their responses to the SHPS at initial assessment. Results: Controlling for symptoms of anxiety and depression, acute anhedonia was cross-sectionally and prospectively associated with greater severity of SI compared to the nonanhedonic group; no differences in severity of SI were found between the chronically anhedonic and nonanhedonic group at either time point. Anhedonia grouping was not associated with SA history. Conclusion: Changes in capacity to experience pleasure may be more informative of near-term SI than typically low pleasure levels. Future investigation should focus on the relationship between acute anhedonia and imminent suicidal behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1218-1227
Number of pages10
JournalDepression and Anxiety
Volume35
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
informationAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), Grant/Award Number: RFA-1-015-14.We are grateful to Irina Kopeykina, HaeJoon Kim, Firouz Ardalan, Deimante McClure, Jenna Cohen, Adina Chesir, Nicolette Molina, Olivia Gambale, Rachel Lerner, Kayla Defazio, Sherilyn Wilman-Depena, Keya Eile, and MegAnn McGinnis for their help with data collection and entry, and to the participating patients. This work was supported by the focus grant # RFA-1-015-14 from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP had no role in the design, conduct, analysis or presentation of the study or study data.

Funding Information:
We are grateful to Irina Kopeykina, HaeJoon Kim, Firouz Ardalan, Deimante McClure, Jenna Cohen, Adina Chesir, Nicolette Molina, Olivia Gambale, Rachel Lerner, Kayla Defazio, Sherilyn Wilman-Depena, Keya Eile, and MegAnn McGinnis for their help with data collection and entry, and to the participating patients. This work was supported by the focus grant # RFA-1-015-14 from the American

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Keywords

  • assessment/diagnosis
  • depression
  • dysthymic disorder
  • measurement/psychometrics
  • suicide/self-harm

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