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Wang LL, Lui SS, Chan RC. Neuropsychology and Neurobiology of Negative Schizotypy: A Selective Review. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100317. [PMID: 38711865 PMCID: PMC11070600 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizotypy refers to a latent personality organization that reflects liability to schizophrenia. Because schizotypy is a multidimensional construct, people with schizotypy vary in behavioral and neurobiological features. In this article, we selectively review the neuropsychological and neurobiological profiles of people with schizotypy, with a focus on negative schizotypy. Empirical evidence is presented for alterations of neuropsychological performance in negative schizotypy. We also cover the Research Domain Criteria domains of positive valence, social process, and sensorimotor systems. Moreover, we systematically summarize the neurobiological correlates of negative schizotypy at the structural, resting-state, and task-based neural levels, as well as the neurochemical level. The convergence and inconsistency of the evidence are critically reviewed. Regarding theoretical and clinical implications, we argue that negative schizotypy represents a useful organizational framework for studying neuropsychology and neurobiology across different psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-ling Wang
- School of Psychology, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Simon S.Y. Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Raymond C.K. Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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2
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Lin T, Simon JC, Gutsell JN. The Association Between Emotional Expressions and Empathic Accuracy. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3858053. [PMID: 38313281 PMCID: PMC10836092 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3858053/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Empathic accuracy, the ability to accurately represent and understand another's emotional state, is integral to socio-emotional functioning. It is also inherently an interpersonal process that requires active engagement of the emotional systems of both interaction partners. The emotional expressivity of the partner sharing their emotions restricts empathic accuracy and the perceiver's emotional expressivity might also affect empathic accuracy as they behaviorally simulate and thus share the emotions they see in the other's face. We explored a potential role of emotional expressivity in people's ability to understand another's emotions in a face-to-face dyadic interaction. Participants took turns sharing emotional experiences while their facial expressions were recorded. They then watched the recordings while continuously rating their own and their partner's affect at any given point during the recording. Empathic accuracy was indexed as the epoch by-epoch emotion change detection. We found that emotional expressivity of the listener, but not of the partner, was associated with increased empathic accuracy, even when controlling for partner's expressivity. Our findings highlight the active role the person empathizing takes in face-to-face emotional sharing.
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3
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Wu Y, Yang D, Jian B, Li C, Liu L, Li W, Li X, Zhou C. Can emotional expressivity and writing content predict beneficial effects of expressive writing among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy? A secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial data from China. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1527-1541. [PMID: 34425924 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To explore whether emotional expressivity and the patterns of language use could predict benefits from expressive writing (EW) of breast cancer (BC) patients in a culture that strongly discourages emotional disclosure. METHODS Data were obtained from a recent trial in which we compared the health outcomes between a prolonged EW group (12 sessions) and a standard EW group (four sessions) (n = 56 per group) of BC patients receiving chemotherapy. The Chinese texts were tokenized using the THU Lexical Analyser for Chinese. Then, LIWC2015 was used to quantify positive and negative affect word use. RESULTS Our first hypothesis that BC patients with higher levels of emotional expressivity tended to use higher levels of positive and negative affect words in texts was not supported (r = 0.067, p = 0.549 and r = 0.065, p = 0.559, respectively). The level of emotional expressivity has a significant effect on the quality of life (QOL), and those who used more positive or fewer negative affective words in texts had a better QOL (all p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was identified in physical and psychological well-being (all p > 0.05). Furthermore, the patterns of affective word use during EW did not mediate the effects of emotional expressivity on health outcomes (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the level of emotional expressivity and the pattern of affective word use could be factors that may moderate the effects of EW on QOL, which may help clinicians identify the individuals most likely to benefit from such writing exercises in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Wu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | | | - Biao Jian
- China Electronic Product Reliability and Environmental Testing Research Institute, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Chaixiu Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Liping Liu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Wenji Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiaojin Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Chunlan Zhou
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
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4
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Guo XD, Zheng H, Ruan D, Wang Y, Wang YY, Chan RCK. Altered empathy correlates with reduced social and non-social reward anticipation in individuals with high social anhedonia. Psych J 2023; 12:92-99. [PMID: 36058882 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the correlations of affective and cognitive components of empathy with reward anticipation toward monetary and social incentives in individuals with social anhedonia (SocAnh). According to the scores on the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale, 109 participants were divided into high (n = 57) and low (n = 52) SocAnh groups. Empathy was assessed with the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) Scale. Social and non-social reward anticipations were assessed by the Social and Monetary Incentive Delay Tasks, respectively. We performed independent-sample t tests and repeated-measures ANOVAs to examine the group differences on empathy and reward anticipation. Correlation analyses between empathy and reward anticipation were conducted. Results showed that the high SocAnh group reported reduced scores on empathy and reward anticipation for monetary and social incentives compared to their low SocAnh counterparts. Correlation analysis further indicated that monetary reward anticipation correlated with cognitive empathy, while social reward anticipation correlated with affective empathy. Our findings suggested that participants with high SocAnh exhibited poorer empathy and reduced reward anticipation than those with low SocAnh level. More importantly, social and non-social reward anticipation may distinctly contribute to affective and cognitive components of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Guo
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dun Ruan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Yu Wang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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5
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Hu HX, Jiang SY, Shan HD, Chu MY, Lv QY, Yi ZH, Lui SSY, Cheung EFC, Chan RCK. Negative belief-updating bias for positive daily life events in individuals with schizophrenia and social anhedonia. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2022; 27:237-254. [PMID: 34895073 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2021.2014309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Low-pleasure beliefs are found in both patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and individuals with high social anhedonia (SocAnh), and are associated with anhedonia. However, little is known about the development and maintenance of these low-pleasure beliefs in the clinical and subclinical populations. We investigated whether patients with SZ and individuals with high SocAnh have deficits in updating their beliefs, which may contribute to the understanding of the formation and maintenance of low-pleasure beliefs. METHODS The Modified Belief Updating Task was administered to assess belief-updating patterns in a clinical sample (36 SZ patients and 30 matched controls) and a subclinical sample (27 individuals with high SocAnh and 30 matched controls). RESULTS We found that compared with controls, SZ patients updated their beliefs to a greater extent and more frequently when receiving bad news for positive life events, but not for negative life events. Moreover, individuals with high SocAnh also exhibited similar patterns in updating their beliefs for positive life events after controlling depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that negative belief-updating patterns for positive events may play an important role in the formation and maintenance of low-pleasure beliefs in patients with SZ and individuals with high SocAnh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Xin Hu
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Yao Jiang
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-di Shan
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Min-Yi Chu
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin-Yu Lv
- Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Hui Yi
- Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Raymond C K Chan
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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6
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Riehle M, Pillny M, Lincoln TM. Expanding the positivity offset theory of anhedonia to the psychosis continuum. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 8:47. [PMID: 35853895 PMCID: PMC9261090 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-022-00251-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
People with schizophrenia and negative symptoms show diminished net positive emotion in low-arousing contexts (diminished positivity offset) and co-activate positive and negative emotion more frequently (increased ambivalence). Here, we investigated whether diminished positivity offset and increased ambivalence covary with negative symptoms along the continuum of psychotic symptoms. We conducted an online-study in an ad-hoc community sample (N = 261). Participants self-reported on psychotic symptoms (negative symptoms, depression, positive symptoms, anhedonia) and rated positivity, negativity, and arousal elicited by pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral stimuli. The data were analyzed with multilevel linear models. Increasing levels of all assessed symptom areas showed significant associations with diminished positivity offset. Increased ambivalence was related only to positive symptoms. Our results show that the diminished positivity offset is associated with psychotic symptoms in a community sample, including, but not limited to, negative symptoms. Ecological validity and symptom specificity require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Riehle
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute for Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Matthias Pillny
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute for Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tania M Lincoln
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute for Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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7
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Masucci MD, Martin V, Le TP, Cohen AS. Negative schizotypy attenuates the effect of momentary stress on social dysfunction related to COVID-19 social distancing. Schizophr Res 2022; 243:24-31. [PMID: 35231831 PMCID: PMC9189049 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2022.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Schizotypy is associated with a broad range of motivational and social dysfunctions. However, there is reason to suspect that negative schizotypy may limit social dysfunction in specific contexts that typically increase isolation and loneliness. We analyzed whether positive, negative and disorganized facets of schizotypy would mitigate detrimental reactions to stress in the context of a global stressor (the COVID-19 pandemic) that has widely necessitated social and physical isolation. Responses to two measures of schizotypy were compared to ecological momentary assessments of social dysfunction for 85 undergraduates using multilevel modelling techniques. Negative schizotypy moderated the relation between momentary stress and loss of social support, such that negative schizotypy limited the magnitude of social dysfunction stemming from increases in momentary stress. This pattern was not seen for other facets of schizotypy. Implications for the treatment and measurement of schizotypy symptoms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Masucci
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,Address correspondence to: Michael Masucci, Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70808,
| | - Victoria Martin
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thanh P. Le
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alex S. Cohen
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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8
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Madzarac Z, Tudor L, Sagud M, Nedic Erjavec G, Mihaljevic Peles A, Pivac N. The Associations between COMT and MAO-B Genetic Variants with Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2021; 43:618-636. [PMID: 34287249 PMCID: PMC8928957 DOI: 10.3390/cimb43020045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia, including anhedonia, represent a heavy burden on patients and their relatives. These symptoms are associated with cortical hypodopamynergia and impaired striatal dopamine release in response to reward stimuli. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) degrade dopamine and affect its neurotransmission. The study determined the association between COMT rs4680 and rs4818, MAO-B rs1799836 and rs6651806 polymorphisms, the severity of negative symptoms, and physical and social anhedonia in schizophrenia. Sex-dependent associations were detected in a research sample of 302 patients with schizophrenia. In female patients with schizophrenia, the presence of the G allele or GG genotype of COMT rs4680 and rs4818, as well as GG haplotype rs4818-rs4680, which were all related to higher COMT activity, was associated with an increase in several dimensions of negative symptoms and anhedonia. In male patients with schizophrenia, carriers of the MAO-B rs1799836 A allele, presumably associated with higher MAO-B activity, had a higher severity of alogia, while carriers of the A allele of the MAO-B rs6651806 had a higher severity of negative symptoms. These findings suggest that higher dopamine degradation, associated with COMT and MAO-B genetic variants, is associated with a sex-specific increase in the severity of negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoran Madzarac
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (Z.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.P.)
| | - Lucija Tudor
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.T.); (G.N.E.)
| | - Marina Sagud
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (Z.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.P.)
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Alma Mihaljevic Peles
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (Z.M.); (M.S.); (A.M.P.)
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nela Pivac
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.T.); (G.N.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +385-915-371-810
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9
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Jiang SY, Shan HD, Zhang RT, Lui SSY, Yang HX, Cheung EFC, Chan RCK. Network analysis of executive function, emotion, and social anhedonia. Psych J 2021; 11:232-234. [PMID: 33783123 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study constructed the network structure of social anhedonia, emotion processing, and executive function in college students using network analysis. We calculated the strength of each node in the network. The results suggest that social anhedonia had negative effects on executive function, emotion experience, and emotion expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yao Jiang
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Di Shan
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui-Ting Zhang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Han-Xue Yang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Raymond C K Chan
- Translational Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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10
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Wang Z, Li Q, Nie L, Zheng Y. Neural dynamics of monetary and social reward processing in social anhedonia. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2020; 15:991-1003. [PMID: 32945882 PMCID: PMC7647377 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsaa128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Being characterized by reduced pleasure from social interaction, social anhedonia constitutes a transdiagnostic marker for various psychiatric disorders. However, the neural portrait of social anhedonia remains elusive because of heterogeneities of reward type and reward dynamics in previous studies. The present event-related potential study investigated neural dynamics in response to monetary and social rewards in social anhedonia. Event-related potential responses were examined when a high social anhedonia (HSA, N = 23) group and a low social anhedonia (LSA, N = 26) group were anticipating and consuming social and monetary rewards. LSA but not HSA participants showed an increased stimulus-preceding negativity (anticipatory phase) and and increased reward positivity (consummatory phase) for monetary as compared with social rewards. This group difference could spring from an increased relevance of social rewards or a general decline in affective responding due to a potential association between social anhedonia and depression. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for neural aberrations of the reward system in social anhedonia, which is contingent upon reward type and reward dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Wang
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lu Nie
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Ya Zheng
- Department of Psychology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
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11
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Cohen AS, Couture SM, Blanchard JJ. Social anhedonia and clinical outcomes in early adulthood: A three-year follow-up study within a community sample. Schizophr Res 2020; 223:213-219. [PMID: 32792232 PMCID: PMC7704724 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Social anhedonia has been employed in psychometric high risk studies to identify putative schizotypes. The current study reports three-year longitudinal results from a community study of social anhedonia: the Maryland Longitudinal Study of Schizotypy (MLSS). The initial recruitment for the MLSS involved mailed questionnaire screening of 2434 18-year olds. Baseline and three-year follow-up laboratory assessments were subsequently conducted with individuals identified as being high in social anhedonia (N = 79) and a comparison sample (N = 79). Across the assessments both groups showed maturational improvement on all clinical symptom measures with declining symptom severity at the follow-up compared to baseline and there were no group differences in personality disorder diagnoses at follow-up. However, compared to the control group, over the three-year follow-up individuals in the social anhedonia group were found to have elevated schizophrenia-spectrum personality disorder (Cluster A) characteristics, greater negative symptom characteristics, and lower global functioning. The social anhedonia group also had lower educational attainment, higher unemployment, and higher rates of mental health service utilization than did the control group. Within the social anhedonia group, social support and family relationships were cross-sectionally related to symptom severity at follow-up, although social support and family variables from baseline were not predictive of clinical symptom outcomes at follow-up. Results indicate that social anhedonia is associated with persistent schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms and functional impairment in early adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S Cohen
- Louisiana State University, United States of America
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12
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Barkus E, Badcock JC. A Transdiagnostic Perspective on Social Anhedonia. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:216. [PMID: 31105596 PMCID: PMC6491888 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are highly social beings, yet people with social anhedonia experience reduced interest in or reward from social situations. Social anhedonia is a key facet of schizotypal personality, an important symptom of schizophrenia, and increasingly recognized as an important feature in a range of other psychological disorders. However, to date, there has been little examination of the similarities and differences in social anhedonia across diagnostic borders. Here, our goal was to conduct a selective review of social anhedonia in different psychological and life course contexts, including the psychosis continuum, depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, along with developmental and neurobiological factors. Current evidence suggests that the nature and expression of social anhedonia vary across psychological disorders with some groups showing deficient learning about, enjoyment from, and anticipation of the pleasurable aspects of social interactions, while for others, some of these components appear to remain intact. However, study designs and methodologies are diverse, the roles of developmental and neurobiological factors are not routinely considered, and direct comparisons between diagnostic groups are rare-which prevents a more nuanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved. Future studies, parsing the wanting, liking, and learning components of social reward, will help to fill gaps in the current knowledge base. Consistent across disorders is diminished pleasure from social situations, subsequent withdrawal, and poorer social functioning in those who express social anhedonia. Nonetheless, feelings of loneliness often remain, which suggests the need for social connection is not entirely absent. Adolescence is a particularly important period of social and neural development and may provide a valuable window on the developmental origins of social anhedonia. Adaptive social functioning is key to recovery from mental health disorders; therefore, understanding the intricacies of social anhedonia will help to inform treatment and prevention strategies for a range of diagnostic categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Barkus
- Cognitive Basis of Atypical Behaviour Initiative (CBABi), School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Johanna C. Badcock
- Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry (CCRN), Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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13
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Riehle M, Lincoln TM. Social consequences of subclinical negative symptoms: An EMG study of facial expressions within a social interaction. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2017; 55:90-98. [PMID: 28092781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The negative symptoms of schizophrenia are related to lower social functioning even in non-clinical samples, but little is known about the distinct social consequences of motivational and expressive negative symptoms. In this study we focused on expressive negative symptoms and examined how these symptoms and varying degrees of pro-social facial expressiveness (smiling and mimicry of smiling) relate to the social evaluations by face-to-face interaction partners and to social support. METHODS We examined 30 dyadic interactions within a sample of non-clinical participants (N = 60) who were rated on motivational and expressive negative symptoms with the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). We collected data on both interaction partners' smiling-muscle (zygomaticus major) activation simultaneously with electromyography and assessed the general amount of smiling and the synchrony of smiling muscle activations between interaction partners (mimicry of smiling). Interaction partners rated their willingness for future interactions with each other after the interactions. RESULTS Interaction partners of participants scoring higher on expressive negative symptoms expressed less willingness for future interactions with these participants (r = -0.37; p = 0.01). Smiling behavior was negatively related to expressive negative symptoms but also explained by motivational negative symptoms. Mimicry of smiling and both negative symptom domains were also associated with participants' satisfaction with their social support network. LIMITATIONS Non-clinical sample with (relatively) low levels of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Expressive negative symptoms have tangible negative interpersonal consequences and directly relate to diminished pro-social behavior and social support, even in non-clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Riehle
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Psychology, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Tania M Lincoln
- Universität Hamburg, Department of Psychology, Von-Melle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Fung CK, Moore MM, Karcher NR, Kerns JG, Martin EA. Emotional word usage in groups at risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: An objective investigation of attention to emotion. Psychiatry Res 2017; 252:29-37. [PMID: 28242515 PMCID: PMC5438895 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.01.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Both extreme levels of social anhedonia (SocAnh) and extreme levels of perceptual aberration/magical ideation (PerMag) indicate increased risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and are associated with emotional deficits. For SocAnh, there is evidence of self-reported decreased trait positive affect and abnormalities in emotional attention. For PerMag, there is evidence of increased trait negative affect and increased attention to negative emotion. Yet, the nature of more objective emotional abnormalities in these groups is unclear. The goal of this study was to assess attention to emotions more objectively in a SocAnh, PerMag, and control group by using a positive (vs. neutral) mood induction procedure followed by a free writing period. Linguistic analyses revealed that the SocAnh group used fewer positive emotion words than the control group, with the PerMag group falling in between the others. In addition, both at-risk groups used more negative emotion words than the control group. Also, for the control group only, those in the positive mood induction used more positive emotion words, suggesting their emotions influenced their linguistic expression. Overall, SocAnh is associated with decreased positive emotional expression and at-risk groups are associated with increased negative emotional expression and a decreased influence of emotions on linguistic expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie K Fung
- Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Melody M Moore
- Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Nicole R Karcher
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - John G Kerns
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Martin
- Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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15
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Giakoumaki SG. Emotion processing deficits in the different dimensions of psychometric schizotypy. Scand J Psychol 2017; 57:256-70. [PMID: 27119257 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Schizotypy refers to a personality structure indicating "proneness" to schizophrenia. Around 10% of the general population has increased schizotypal traits, they also share other core features with schizophrenia and are thus at heightened risk for developing schizophrenia and spectrum disorders. A key aspect in schizophrenia-spectrum pathology is the impairment observed in emotion-related processes. This review summarizes findings on impairments related to central aspects of emotional processes, such as emotional disposition, alexithymia, facial affect recognition and speech prosody, in high schizotypal individuals in the general population. Although the studies in the field are not numerous, the current findings indicate that all these aspects of emotional processing are deficient in psychometric schizotypy, in accordance to the schizophrenia-spectrum literature. A disturbed frontotemporal neural network seems to be the critical link between these impairments, schizotypy and schizophrenia. The limitations of the current studies and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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16
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Gooding DC, Padrutt ER, Pflum MJ. The Predictive Value of the NEO-FFI Items: Parsing the Nature of Social Anhedonia Using the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale and the ACIPS. Front Psychol 2017; 8:147. [PMID: 28223956 PMCID: PMC5293811 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal was to examine the nature of social anhedonia using two validated measures and study their relationship to scores on the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Nearly 1,900 college-aged participants completed the Chapman Revised Social Anhedonia Scale (RSAS), Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS), and the NEO-FFI. Although both the RSAS and ACIPS were associated with the NEO-FFI domains of Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, linear regression analyses revealed that the RSAS and ACIPS were differentially predicted by NEO-FFI item clusters. The RSAS scores were predicted by Sociability, Nonantagonistic Orientation, Positive Affect, and Activity item clusters. The ACIPS scores were predicted by Sociability, Prosocial Orientation, Activity, and Positive Affect item clusters in addition to gender. In summary, it appears that social anhedonia is multidimensional, associated with various personality domains encompassing social approach and withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane C Gooding
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, MadisonWI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, MadisonWI, USA
| | - Emily R Padrutt
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, USA
| | - Madeline J Pflum
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI, USA
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17
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A temporal examination of co-activated emotion valence networks in schizophrenia and schizotypy. Schizophr Res 2016; 170:322-9. [PMID: 26711714 PMCID: PMC4740216 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Emotional abnormalities are prominent across the schizophrenia spectrum. To better define these abnormalities, we examined state emotional functions across opposing ends of the spectrum, notably in chronic outpatients with schizophrenia (Study 1) and college students with psychometrically defined schizotypy (Study 2). In line with existing studies, we predicted that individuals with schizophrenia would show unusually co-activated positive and negative emotions while college students with schizotypy would show abnormally low positive and abnormally high negative emotions. Drawing from the affective science literature, we employed continuous emotion ratings in response to a dynamic and evocatively "bittersweet" stimulus. Participants included 27 individuals with schizophrenia, 39 individuals with psychometrically defined schizotypy and 26 community and 35 college control participants. Participants continuously rated their state happiness and sadness throughout a six-minute clip from a tragicomic film (i.e., Life is Beautiful). In contrast to expectations as well as the extant literature, there were no state emotional abnormalities noted from either schizophrenia-spectrum group. Of particular note, neither individuals with schizophrenia nor individuals with schizotypy were abnormal in their experience of state negative, positive or coactivated emotions. Conversely, abnormalities in trait emotion were observed in both groups relative to their respective control groups. These results help confirm that the schizophrenia-spectrum is not characterized by deficits in state emotional experience and suggest that sadness is not abnormally co-activated with pleasant emotions. These results are critical for clarifying the "chronometry" of emotional dysfunctions across the schizophrenia-spectrum.
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18
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McCarthy JM, Treadway MT, Blanchard JJ. Motivation and effort in individuals with social anhedonia. Schizophr Res 2015; 165:70-5. [PMID: 25888337 PMCID: PMC4437913 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that anhedonia may, in part, reflect difficulties in reward processing and effortful decision making. The current study aimed to replicate previous findings of effortful decision making deficits associated with elevated anhedonia and expand upon these findings by investigating whether these decision making deficits are specific to elevated social anhedonia or are also associated with elevated positive schizotypy characteristics. The current study compared controls (n=40) to individuals elevated on social anhedonia (n=30), and individuals elevated on perceptual aberration/magical ideation (n=30) on the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT). Across groups, participants chose a higher proportion of hard tasks with increasing probability of reward and reward magnitude, demonstrating sensitivity to probability and reward values. Contrary to our expectations, when the probability of reward was most uncertain (50% probability), at low and medium reward values, the social anhedonia group demonstrated more effortful decision making than either individuals high in positive schizotypy or controls. The positive schizotypy group only differed from controls (making less effortful choices than controls) when reward probability was lowest (12%) and the magnitude of reward was the smallest. Our results suggest that social anhedonia is related to intact motivation and effort for monetary rewards, but that individuals with this characteristic display a unique and perhaps inefficient pattern of effort allocation when the probability of reward is most uncertain. Future research is needed to better understand effortful decision making and the processing of reward across a range of individual difference characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M. McCarthy
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742 United States
| | | | - Jack J. Blanchard
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD 20742 United States
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19
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Cohen AS, Mohr C, Ettinger U, Chan RCK, Park S. Schizotypy as an organizing framework for social and affective sciences. Schizophr Bull 2015; 41 Suppl 2:S427-35. [PMID: 25810057 PMCID: PMC4373637 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbu195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Schizotypy, defined in terms of commonly occurring personality traits related to the schizophrenia spectrum, has been an important construct for understanding the neurodevelopment and stress-diathesis of schizophrenia. However, as schizotypy nears its sixth decade of application, it is important to acknowledge its impressively rich literature accumulating outside of schizophrenia research. In this article, we make the case that schizotypy has considerable potential as a conceptual framework for understanding individual differences in affective and social functions beyond those directly involved in schizophrenia spectrum pathology. This case is predicated on (a) a burgeoning literature noting anomalies in a wide range of social functioning, affiliative, positive and negative emotional, expressive, and social cognitive systems, (b) practical and methodological features associated with schizotypy research that help facilitate empirical investigation, and (c) close ties to theoretical constructs of central importance to affective and social science (eg, stress diathesis, neural compensation). We highlight recent schizotypy research, ie providing insight into the nature of affective and social systems more generally. This includes current efforts to clarify the neurodevelopmental, neurobiological, and psychological underpinnings of affiliative drives, hedonic capacity, social cognition, and stress responsivity systems. Additionally, we discuss neural compensatory and resilience factors that may mitigate the expression of stress-diathesis and functional outcome, and highlight schizotypy's potential role for understanding cultural determinants of social and affective functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S. Cohen
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA;,*To whom correspondence should be addressed; Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, US; tel: 225-578-7017, fax: 225-578-4125, e-mail:
| | - Christine Mohr
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Raymond C. K. Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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Kadison LS, Ragsdale KA, Mitchell JC, Cassisi JE, Bedwell JS. Subtypes of anhedonia and facial electromyography response to negative affective pictures in non-psychiatric adults. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2015; 20:31-40. [PMID: 25185704 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2014.955172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Kadison
- a Psychology Department , University of Central Florida , 4111 Pictor Lane, Orlando, FL , USA
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21
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Speech prosody abnormalities and specific dimensional schizotypy features: are relationships limited to male participants? J Nerv Ment Dis 2014; 202:745-51. [PMID: 25198702 PMCID: PMC4180770 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In schizophrenia, diminished vocal expressivity is associated with lower quality of life. Studies using computerized acoustic analysis of speech have found no evidence of diminished vocal prosody related to categorically defined schizotypy, a subclinical analogue of schizophrenia. However, existing studies have not examined the interaction between schizotypy and sex with vocal prosody measures. The current study examined 44 young adults (50% men) who were recruited to represent a continuous range of schizotypy. Speech samples were digitally recorded during autobiographical narratives and analyzed for prosody. In the male participants, variability of fundamental frequency and variability of intensity were each negatively related to the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) ideas of reference subscale, whereas SPQ suspiciousness was related to a greater number of utterances, and SPQ odd behavior was related to a greater number of pauses. Because the relationships were restricted to men, and not significant in women, the results may explain earlier negative findings with schizotypy.
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22
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Domain-specific hedonic deficits towards social affective but not monetary incentives in social anhedonia. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4056. [PMID: 24514898 PMCID: PMC4070222 DOI: 10.1038/srep04056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Anticipatory and consummatory dissociation of hedonic experience may manifest as anhedonia in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear if this temporal dissociation of pleasure experience is also relevant in other symptoms like social anhedonia in the schizophrenia disorder spectrum. The present study applied two incentive delay tasks involving different incentive types (money vs. social affective images) to a sample of 28 participants with elevated social anhedonia (SocAnh) and 38 healthy controls from a population of 476 college students. The results showed that the SocAnh group had comparable anticipatory sensitivity and consummatory pleasure towards monetary incentives as the controls; but they exhibited significant decrease in both anticipatory sensitivity and consummatory experience to positive social affective images. These findings demonstrate the presence of a domain-specific deficit in people with social anhedonia towards social affective information, and suggest that incentive types could confound the findings on the dissociation of anticipatory vs. consummatory hedonic capacities.
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23
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Llerena K, Park SG, Couture SM, Blanchard JJ. Social anhedonia and affiliation: examining behavior and subjective reactions within a social interaction. Psychiatry Res 2012; 200:679-86. [PMID: 22884310 PMCID: PMC3513506 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Revised: 07/14/2012] [Accepted: 07/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Social anhedonia is a promising indicator for the vulnerability towards developing schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and is an important determinant of the social impairment associated with these disorders. It is unknown if social anhedonia is associated with true deficits in experiential reactions or if lower social functioning in social anhedonia reflects behavioral deficits in social skill or initiation of social contact. Using a novel social interaction task, the current study compared controls (n=60) to individuals elevated on social anhedonia (n=49) on observer-rated social skill and facial affect and participant self-reports of their experiential reactions to an affiliative interaction. Compared to the control group, the social anhedonia group was rated as behaviorally less affiliative and less socially skilled during the affiliative interaction. In response to the social interaction, the social anhedonia group reported less change in positive affect, less willingness to engage in future social interactions with the interaction partner, and less positive reactions toward the interaction partner compared to controls. There were no group differences in facial displays of emotion. Using a standardized affiliative stimulus, it was demonstrated that individuals high in social anhedonia have alterations in both their social skill and in their self-reported experiential reactions during a social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiah Llerena
- University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Stephanie G. Park
- University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Shannon M. Couture
- University of Southern California, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jack J. Blanchard
- University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, College Park, MD, USA
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24
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Anhedonia and emotional word memory in patients with depression. Psychiatry Res 2012; 200:361-7. [PMID: 22910474 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 06/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Anhedonia is a key diagnostic criterion for major depression. Investigating the relation between the specific symptoms and emotional processing may help to understand the underlying cognitive mechanism of anhedonia in depression. In this study, we explored the potential association between memory for emotional words and anhedonia in 71 patients with depression and 61 healthy individuals. An emotional word-rating task was administered to assess self-reported emotional experience to words on both valence and arousal dimensions, and subsequent recall and recognition memory for these words. Depressed patients demonstrated a reduction in pleasure and arousal experience to positive words, but an increase in arousal experience to negative words. Depressed patients also displayed a lower overall memory performance in recall measure and a bias to memory of more negative words. Moreover, state anhedonia and trait anhedonia were associated with attenuated positive experience and enhanced negative experience in patients with depression only. Higher levels of anhedonia and depression severity were also associated with fewer positive words and more negative words memory. Patients with depression displayed a flat pattern of emotional experience to positive stimuli and a tendency towards rating negative stimuli more intensely.
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25
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Tchanturia K, Davies H, Harrison A, Fox JRE, Treasure J, Schmidt U. Altered social hedonic processing in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord 2012; 45:962-9. [PMID: 22693046 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exploring social anhedonia in eating disorders (ED) was the main objective of this study. Social anhedonia relates to a reduced feeling of pleasure from social stimulation. Researching the exact nature of problems in interpersonal relationships is an important topic for clinicians and researchers in the field. METHOD The revised social anhedonia scale was completed by 148 participants: anorexia nervosa (AN) n = 72; bulimia nervosa (BN) n = 19; recovered AN n = 14; healthy controls (HC) n = 43. Participants also completed mood related measures and the Toronto Alexythimia scale. RESULTS People with AN and BN had higher self-reported social anhedonia than people without ED. Recovered AN had an intermediate profile in between AN and HC. Clinical severity and alexithymia were strongly associated with social anhedonia scores. DISCUSSION Difficulty identifying and expressing feelings could be related to this diminished drive for social pleasure. Tackling these interpersonal maintaining factors in treatment is likely to be a worthwhile endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Tchanturia
- Section of Eating Disorders, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
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26
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Burgin CJ, Brown LH, Royal A, Silvia PJ, Barrantes-Vidal N, Kwapil TR. Being with others and feeling happy: Emotional expressivity in everyday life. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2012; 53:185-190. [PMID: 27013770 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
An experience sampling study assessed the relation between psychological functioning in daily life and emotional expressivity as measured by the emotional expressivity scale (EES). Four hundred and twenty-nine participants carried personal digital assistants that signaled them 8 times daily to complete questionnaires assessing affect, activities, and social contact. As predicted, participants high in emotional expressivity were more likely to have elevated state positive affect, but not negative affect. These participants were also less likely to be alone and more likely to demonstrate better social functioning when with others. Cross-level interactions indicated that emotional expressivity moderated the association of social context and functioning in the moment. The findings support the validity of the EES as a measure of emotional expressivity and demonstrate the utility of experience sampling for describing personality traits in daily life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Burgin
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, United States
| | - Leslie H Brown
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Amethyst Royal
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, United States
| | - Paul J Silvia
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, United States
| | - Neus Barrantes-Vidal
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, United States; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain; Sant Pere Claver - Fundació Sanitària, Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spanish Ministry of Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas R Kwapil
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, United States
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27
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Najolia GM, Cohen AS, Minor KS. A laboratory study of affectivity in schizotypy: subjective and lexical analysis. Psychiatry Res 2011; 189:233-8. [PMID: 21816487 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Revised: 03/31/2011] [Accepted: 07/07/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Affective dysfunction is a defining schizotypy feature; yet the majority of studies examining affective dysfunction have largely relied on self-report of trait affect, which reflects only one dimension of emotional experience. Emerging research has explored a second dimension, state affect, using laboratory manipulation, with most finding that schizotypal participants report experiencing less positive/more negative affect than controls. This study expands upon this topic by examining patterns of state affect in psychometrically identified schizotypy through self-report and lexical expression in reaction to emotionally valenced photos. Overall, the schizotypy group reported less positive/more negative affect across affect induction conditions. Both schizotypy and control groups' affect ratings were similar following the unpleasant stimuli; but the schizotypy group's ratings remained significantly less positive/more negative than the control group following the pleasant stimuli. This pattern suggests that the schizotypy group experienced a deficit in emotional reactivity compared to controls in pleasant situations. The schizotypy group also used a higher percentage of negative words and a lower percentage of positive words in vocalized reactions during the pleasant, but not unpleasant, affect induction condition. These results reveal a specific pattern of "in-the-moment" affective dysfunction unique to pleasant situations that is consistent across both subjective experience and lexical expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina M Najolia
- Department of Psychology, Louisana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
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