Anticipatory pleasure in current psychosis: Cognitive and emotional correlates

Journal article

Anticipation of pleasure – a key aspect of hedonic experience - is a motivating factor for engaging in activities. Low levels of anticipatory pleasure and activity are found in individuals with psychosis. Cognitive factors (e.g., working memory and IQ) have been a focus of explanation for anticipation of pleasure in psychosis. However, cognitive factors do not fully account for such difficulties. It is plausible that emotional factors (e.g., depression, self-beliefs) also contribute. We examined anticipatory pleasure in relation to cognitive and emotional processes in patients with current psychosis. 128 patients with persecutory delusions in the context of non-affective psychosis completed assessments of anticipatory pleasure, cognitive functioning, emotional processes, and activity. Lower anticipatory pleasure was significantly associated with depression, insomnia, negative-self beliefs, suicidal ideation, poorer psychological wellbeing, and paranoia-related avoidance. There were no significant associations with working memory, physical activity, or meaningful activity. Emotional factors may play a more significant role than cognitive difficulties in the experience of anhedonia in psychosis. However, the cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences. Future research should examine whether, for example, improving self-concept or reducing paranoia-related avoidance leads to improvement in anticipatory pleasure in patients with psychosis.

Authors: Rosebrock, LE; Waite, F; Diamond, R; Collett, N; Bold, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Psychiatry Research
• Volume: 297
• Article number: 113697
• Publication date: 2020-12-29
• Acceptance date: 2020-12-26
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113697
• EISSN: 1872-7123
• ISSN: 0165-1781
• Pmid: 33465523
• Language: English
• Keywords: paranoia; anhedonia; activity; self-concept; avoidance; FFR; cognition; anticipatory pleasure