Abstract

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.

Citations

Laina E Rosebrock, Felicity Waite, Rowan Diamond, Nicola Collett, Emily Bold, Eleanor Chadwick, Ashley-Louise Teale, Daniel Freeman. Anticipatory Pleasure in Current Psychosis: Cognitive and Emotional Correlates. Psychiatry Research, December 2020

Sponsorship: Supported by the NIHR

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113697

URI: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/anticipatory-pleasure-in-current-psychosis-cognitive-and-emotional-correlates/