TY - JOUR
T1 - Anhedonia and emotional numbing in combat veterans with PTSD
AU - Kashdan, Todd B.
AU - Elhai, Jon D.
AU - Frueh, B. Christopher
N1 - Funding Information:
The positive relationship between anhedonia and emotional numbing, as opposed to relationships with other PTSD symptoms, suggests that anhedonia and emotional numbing are functionally related. The functional importance of anhedonia and emotional numbing was supported by their minimal roles in predicting comorbid MDD, additional anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders. Other PTSD symptom clusters failed to uniquely predict these comorbid conditions. Fitting with work in other areas of psychology, our data support the relative independence of appetition and aversion and the unique value of examining the interface of appetition and psychopathology.
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/3
Y1 - 2006/3
N2 - We explored relationships between anhedonia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters, including their role in predicting psychiatric comorbidity. Our measure of anhedonia was derived from an examination of the latent structure of the Beck Depression Inventory. We found evidence for a two-factor solution, leading to anhedonia and undifferentiated, global depressive symptoms scales. In primary analyses, anhedonia had a unique positive relationship with PTSD's emotional numbing symptoms and minimal relationships with other PTSD symptoms. Upon examining the incremental validity of appetitive functioning (i.e., anhedonia, emotional numbing) over and above aversive functioning (i.e., re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal PTSD symptoms) variables, greater emotional numbing increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder, and greater anhedonia increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with additional anxiety disorders and to a lesser extent, psychotic disorders. Results were consistent with research on the distinction of appetitive and aversive functioning, providing insight into the nature of PTSD.
AB - We explored relationships between anhedonia and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters, including their role in predicting psychiatric comorbidity. Our measure of anhedonia was derived from an examination of the latent structure of the Beck Depression Inventory. We found evidence for a two-factor solution, leading to anhedonia and undifferentiated, global depressive symptoms scales. In primary analyses, anhedonia had a unique positive relationship with PTSD's emotional numbing symptoms and minimal relationships with other PTSD symptoms. Upon examining the incremental validity of appetitive functioning (i.e., anhedonia, emotional numbing) over and above aversive functioning (i.e., re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal PTSD symptoms) variables, greater emotional numbing increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder, and greater anhedonia increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with additional anxiety disorders and to a lesser extent, psychotic disorders. Results were consistent with research on the distinction of appetitive and aversive functioning, providing insight into the nature of PTSD.
KW - Anhedonia
KW - Assessment
KW - Emotional numbing
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
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U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2005.03.001
DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2005.03.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 16446151
AN - SCOPUS:31544475116
VL - 44
SP - 457
EP - 467
JO - Behaviour Research and Therapy
JF - Behaviour Research and Therapy
SN - 0005-7967
IS - 3
ER -