Esfand SM, Null KE, Duda JM, de Leeuw J, Pizzagalli DA. Lifetime history of major depressive disorder is associated with decreased reward learning: Evidence from a novel online version of the probabilistic reward task.
J Affect Disord 2024;
350:1007-1015. [PMID:
38278332 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.133]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT) is a signal detection task that assesses reward learning. In laboratory versions of the task, individuals with current or past major depressive disorder (MDD) were characterized by reduced response bias towards a more frequently rewarded stimuli, compared to controls. Our main goal was to develop and validate a novel online version of the PRT, and, in exploratory analyses, evaluate whether lifetime history of depression was associated with blunted reward learning.
METHODS
429 participants recruited via CloudResearch completed questionnaires assessing psychiatric history and an online PRT featuring visually appealing stimuli. 108 participants reported either current or past diagnosis of MDD (lifetime MDD group), and were compared to 321 without lifetime MDD.
RESULTS
Participants showed overall increase in response bias, validating the online PRT. Females with lifetime MDD (N = 43), compared to females without prior history of MDD (N = 173), exhibited blunted response bias towards the more frequently rewarded stimulus (i.e., reduced reward learning).
LIMITATIONS
Participants did not undergo a structured clinical interview, thus we cannot confirm whether they met full diagnostic criteria for depression.
CONCLUSIONS
The online PRT yielded similar psychometric properties as laboratory versions of the task. In exploratory analyses, females with lifetime MDD showed a lower propensity to modulate behavior as a function of rewards, which might contribute to heightened vulnerability for developing MDD in females. Future studies should consider social, cultural, and neurobiological factors contributing to sex differences in reward responsiveness and how factors may relate to disease prognosis and treatment outcomes.
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