Anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression: State or trait? Review of the literature

Objectives: Anhedonia, a term proposed by Ribot in 1896, is an inability to feel pleasure in situations or activities that are normally pleasing. In this review, the authors describe the psychopathological features of anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression. Methods: Exhaustive review of the international literature (in Medline, PubMed, Psychinfo) on anhedonia in schizophrenia and major depression. Results In both schizophrenia and major depression, anhedonia is considered both as a state (symptom) and a personological trait (Figs. 1-4). Conclusions: Anhedonia cannot be considered as a specific psychopathological feature of major depression (Table I), but appears to be a problematic psychological condition that is difficult to interpret due to its nosographical transversality.