What is Anhedonia, symptoms and treatment

La anhedonia corresponds to the loss of satisfaction and interest in carrying out various activities, such as going out with friends, going to the cinema or walking in the beach, for example, the ones that were previously considered pleasant.

This type of alteration is very common in people that cause a decrease in the production of dopamine, an important hormone related to the sensation of placer. Asimism, the presence of psychological disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, as well as the consumption of certain substances can also cause anhedonia.

It is important that the cause is identified so that the treatment can be addressed, being able to recommend the realization of psychotherapy sessions or indicate the use of antidepressant medication prescribed by the psychiatrist.

symptoms of anhedonia

The main symptoms that could indicate anhedonia include the following:

• Loss of interest in activities that took place previously;
• Concentration difficulty;
• Alteraciones del sueño, being able to have insomnia or excessive sueño;
• Loss of libido.

People with anhedonia generally also show great variations in weight, being able to gain or lose weight without this being a goal.

main causes

One of the main causes of anhedonia is major depressive disorder, however, other illnesses such as schizophrenia, psychosis, Parkinson’s, anorexia nervosa and the use of certain medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, can also cause anhedonia.

Some risk factors can also generate the development of anhedonia, such as the occurrence of traumatic or stressful events, history of abuse or neglect, illnesses that have a great impact on the person’s quality of life, dietary disorders and family history of depression major or schizophrenia.

How is the treatment performed?

La anhedonia has a cure, but it can be very difficult to treat. In general, it consists of the treatment of the illness that is causing it, such as depression or another psychiatric disorder.

The first option is psychotherapy with a therapist, who will evaluate the psychological state of the person and, if necessary, will refer her to a psychiatrist, who will be able to prescribe medication, such as antidepressants, aimed at the psychiatric problem that the person has .

Medical follow-up should be carried out on a regular basis, with the aim of identifying possible side effects caused by the drugs and adjusting the dose to obtain better results.

As anhedonia is one of the symptoms of depression, it is important that this condition be identified and treated. See how to identify depression.