ANHEDONIA

This study tested a program designed to boost positive emotions in children aged 8 to 12 whose mothers have a history of depression and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure). The goal was to see if the program could change how their brains respond to rewards, potentially preve…

This study tested whether adding aticaprant to a standard antidepressant helps adults with major depression who still feel little interest or pleasure (anhedonia). About 444 people took either aticaprant or a placebo pill for 6 weeks. Researchers measured changes in depression an…

This study tested a noninvasive brain stimulation technique called accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS) in 60 adults with anhedonic depression—a type of depression where people lose interest or pleasure in things. Participants were randomly assigned to receive…

This study tested whether pramipexole, a drug used for Parkinson's disease, can help people with depression who still struggle with anhedonia—the inability to feel pleasure or motivation—even after trying antidepressants. 85 adults with depression and significant anhedonia took e…

This study looked at whether adding pramipexole (a drug used for Parkinson's) to regular depression treatment can safely reduce anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure) over the long term. 55 adults who had already been in a short-term trial took the drug for up to a year. Resear…

This study tested an experimental drug called ALTO-203 in 69 adults with moderate major depressive disorder and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure). Participants received either a low dose, a higher dose, or a placebo, and were monitored for mood changes, safety, and side ef…

This study tested a drug called aticaprant in 513 adults with major depression who still had symptoms—especially loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia)—even with their current antidepressant. Participants took either aticaprant or a placebo pill alongside their usual antidepres…

This study tested a new brain-training method called PRISM neurofeedback in 19 adults with major depression and anhedonia (loss of pleasure). Participants were randomly assigned to real or sham training to see if it safely improves mood and pleasure. The goal is to help doctors p…

This small pilot study tested whether pramipexole, a drug used for Parkinson's disease, could help people with depression who also struggle with anhedonia — the inability to feel pleasure or motivation. 13 adults with depression and significant anhedonia took pramipexole alongsid…

This study looked at anhedonia — the loss of interest or pleasure in activities — in 123 young people with depression. Participants underwent brain scans, blood tests, and behavioral tasks to measure symptoms. Some also tried treatments like brain stimulation (TMS), positive thin…

This study looked at how inflammation changes the brain's reward system in older adults (ages 60-80) with anxiety. Researchers used brain scans and computer tasks to measure loss of pleasure and motivation after an inflammatory challenge. The goal was to understand the link betwe…

This study looked at how inflammation changes the way younger women experience reward, which may help explain why some people develop depression. Researchers gave 40 healthy women a mild inflammatory substance or a placebo and measured their responses to money and smiling faces. …