Anhedonia

In psychology, anhedonia (< an- + Greek h&#275;don&#275; pleasure) is a patient's inability to experience pleasure from normally pleasurable life events such as eating, exercise, and social/sexual interactions.

Anhedonia is recognized as one of the key symptoms of the mood disorder, depression according to both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.

In addition to Anhedonia, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considers only depressed mood to be a key symptom. In contrast, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems lists both depressed mood and fatigue or loss of energy as key symptoms.

Researchers theorize that anhedonia may result from the breakdown in the brain's reward system, involving dopamine pathways. Two 2005 studes by Paul Keedwell MD of King's College found that certain sections of the brain in depressed subjects had to work harder to process happy thoughts.

Anhedonia is also seen in schizophrenic disorders and other mental disorders.

Anhedonia is often experienced by drug addicts following withdrawal; in particular, stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines cause anhedonia and depression by depleting dopamine and other important neurotransmitters. Very long-term addicts are sometimes said to suffer a permanent physical breakdown of their pleasure pathways, leading to anhedonia on a permanent or semi-permanent basis due to the extended overworking of the neural pleasure pathways during addiction (particularly as regards cocaine). In this circumstance, activities still may be pleasurable, but can never be as pleasurable as they are for people not addicted to those drugs with the same intensity for the same amount of time.

Sexual anhedonia is known as 'ejaculatory anhedonia'. This rare condition means that the person will ejaculate with no accompanying sense of pleasure. This condition is most frequently found in males, but women can suffer from lack of pleasure when the body goes through the orgasm process as well.

Woody Allen's film Annie Hall was originally titled Anhedonia, but the studio felt this title to be unmarketable.

External link

 * No Pleasure, No Reward

Anhedonia Ангедония