2023-08-17 01:55:52
In the media, on social networks and even in everyday conversations often we associate depression simply with sadness or anguish. Images of people crying or lying on the bed reinforce this association, which can sometimes be misleading. In fact, there is another symptom that is present in up to 75% of adults and young people with mental health problem: the anhedonia.
Is regarding the inability to enjoy experiences or activities that would normally be pleasant, defines the dictionary of the American Psychological Association (APA). “Anhedonia is simultaneously interchangeable with depression, a characteristic of depression and an entity other than depression,” adds the reference institution.
This deficit in the experience of pleasure is one of the two core symptoms of depression and, despite how common it is, it is one of the symptoms more difficult to treat and controlensures a research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
That is, anhedonia presents not only as a loss of joy, but also as less motivation to do things. For some, this lack of drive is related to specific things, like going to school or seeing friends. But for others, it can be more serious and they feel like they don’t want to do anything at all, not even live, describes an article in The Conversation signed by Ciara McCabe, Professor of Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology and Mental Health at the University of Reading, UK.
On the other hand, although it has a central role in depression, disorder affecting 5% of adults worldwideanhedonia can also appear in people with substance use disorder, as part of withdrawal symptoms and in cases of schizophrenia.
According to McCabe, if a person has this symptom for a prolonged period of at least two weeks consistently, can be diagnosed with depressioneven if you don’t feel sad or depressed.
In this regard, other research available in the virtual library of the United States National Institutes of Health indicates that, despite advances in the understanding of psychopharmacology and biomarkers of depression and the introduction of several new classes of antidepressants, only 60-70% of patients with the disorder respond positively to antidepressant therapy with drugs.
“Of those who do not respond, between 10% and 30% have symptoms resistant to treatment along with difficulties in social and occupational function, deterioration in physical health, suicidal thoughts and increased utilization of medical care. Treatment-resistant depression poses a dilemma for healthcare providers”, reports the paper.
For these reasons, the main recommendation is that cases of mild depression be treated with talk therapy and, in moderate or severe cases, that I leave the anti-depressant prescription. The ultimate goal is to help people take simple, practical steps to enjoy life once more.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), psychological treatments are effective because they can teach new ways of thinking, coping with situations, or relating to others.
“While it can be difficult to find motivation if you experience anhedonia, trying to find time to have fun, enjoy activities or experiences like a hobby you used to love, or even a new hobby, might help alleviate anhedonia. It’s important that you don’t ignore your feelings so you can get the help and treatment you deserve,” McCabe recommends.
This article was originally published on RED/ACCIÓN and is republished as part of the “Human Journalism” program, an alliance for quality journalism between RÍO NEGRO and RED/ACCIÓN.
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