Research advances in anhedonia symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Anhedonia is defined as the reduction of pleasure and reward-seeking behavior， and it is prevalent in approximately two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder （PTSD）. Numerous empirical studies have consistently demonstrated that anhedonia represents an independent symptom dimension of PTSD. Furthermore， additional investigations have revealed that anhedonia plays a crucial role in the psychopathology of PTSD， contributing to the maintenance of post-traumatic stress responses， as well as more severe functional impairment and reduced therapeutic responsiveness. This paper aims to discuss the definition， psychopathology， genetic mechanisms and neurobiological underpinnings of anhedonia in PTSD， thus providing insights for future research on anhedonic symptoms. ［Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China Joint Fund Key Project （number， U21A20364）； National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund （number， 32300918）］

Keywords

• post-traumatic stress disorder
• anhedonia
• psychopathology
• nneuroimaging
• genetic mechanisms