Subtypes of anhedonia and facial electromyography response to negative affective pictures in non-psychiatric adults

    Authors

    L. S. Kadison; K. A. Ragsdale; J. C. Mitchell; J. E. Cassisi;J. S. Bedwell

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Cogn. Neuropsychiatry

    Keywords

    expression; electromyography; anhedonia; facial; emotion; SOCIAL ANHEDONIA; SEX-DIFFERENCES; SCHIZOPHRENIA; SCHIZOTYPY; SCALE; METAANALYSIS; VALIDATION; EXPERIENCE; PLEASURE; STIMULI; Psychiatry

    Abstract

    Introduction. Flat/constricted affect and anhedonia are symptoms found in several psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. However, there are very few studies on the relationships between specific anhedonia subtypes and objectively assessed flat affect, and it appears that none of the existing studies examined potential moderation by sex. Methods. Forty-seven undergraduate students (60% male) completed self-report questionnaires assessing three subtypes of anhedonia - non-social consummatory (CON) and anticipatory (ANT) anhedonia, and overall social anhedonia. Participants viewed 15 pictures (5 neutral and 10 negative) from the International Affective Picture System, whereas facial muscle reaction was recorded using electromyography (EMG). Results. Male participants reporting a greater level of overall social or non-social CON anhedonia showed a greater EMG activity increase in the corrugator supercilii muscle to negative (vs. neutral) pictures. In females, the relationship was only found with social anhedonia and was opposite in direction, as increased social anhedonia related to less EMG activity change in the corrugator muscle. Conclusions. The relationship between anhedonia and flat affect varied as a function of sex and anhedonia subtype. These findings may help explain discrepancies in the sparse existing literature examining this relationship in psychiatric populations and have implications for assessment and treatment of these symptoms across psychiatric disorders.

    Journal Title

    Cognitive Neuropsychiatry

    Volume

    20

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    31

    Last Page

    40

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000344593400003

    ISSN

    1354-6805

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