Angedonia - what is it? Symptoms, treatment, causes

One of the mysterious and severe psychological diseases of man is anhedonia. What is it, what are the symptoms and treatment for this disorder, who is at risk, the article will tell.

Anhedonia: interpretation of the concept

The very concept of "anhedonia" was introduced with the easy hand of Dr. Theodule-Armand Thibaut. He proposed this term in 1886 to explain a number of symptoms inherent in hepatic encephalopathy. Later, Breuiler and Kraepelin took him into service to describe mental disorders in patients with schizophrenia.

But the concept of "anhedonia," what it is in the understanding of modern psychology and psychiatry, was justified and accepted a little later. The name itself came from the Greek "hedonism" - pleasure. The prefix "en" speaks of denial, hence, anhedonia is an inability (medical psychology allocates full or partial forms) to have fun, respectively, and lack of desire for it. This refers to both the physical side (pleasure from sex, food and other bodily pleasures), and moral (the joy of certain social contacts, art objects, favorite pursuits).

This disorder is a sign of an unhealthy state of the psyche and can be either a symptom or an individual disease preceding or adjacent to severe depression or other disorders.

Also, anhedonia is associated with a violation of the production of dopamine - a number of hormones that cause a sense of pleasure and / or satisfaction.

Who is at risk?

Often anhedonia as a symptom occurs in patients with such pathological states of the psyche:

• Schizophrenia and paranoia;
• Anxiety disorder and depersonalization.

Characteristics of the individual in that she loses the ability to reasonably assess themselves and their situation, falls into captivity deceptive impossibility to manage their own actions.

Also at risk are people who have experienced very severe stress and are in the stage of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anhedonia is also characteristic of many forms of depression, from relatively light seasonal to clinical.

Medical psychology refers to the risk group of the disease as people prone to inflated self-esteem, and individuals who are not confident in themselves and their abilities.

Anghdonia can develop in former or actual drug addicts as a consequence of the fact that narcotic substances fed the body with false dopamine, and their "hormones of pleasure" ceased to produce such a person's body.

Also in some cases, this disorder can occur after long-term administration of neuroleptics, since the side effect of almost every one of them is a decrease in the production of dopamine.

Angedonia. Symptoms

The symptomatology of this disorder depends on the form and stage of the disease.

Our article carries the character of reviewing, and not narrowly medical work, therefore we will omit anhedonia as a consequence of psychiatric diseases.

Let's talk about the disease alone or concomitant depression.

According to the American Psychiatric Association of 2013, anhedonia is recognized as the main sign of diagnosing depression.

Characteristics of the individual at the initial stage of the disease implies an apathetic state and a rejection of previously pleasurable activities. If we are talking about a sexually active patient, then his intimate needs are getting smaller, and eventually come to naught. The activity of a person decreases, which is understandable. If a person does not get pleasure and satisfaction from their studies, the value and priority of these activities decreases. Hence the following symptom - passivity and unwillingness to do something. It would seem that if a person does nothing, he does not get tired. But the next symptom of anhedonia is pathological (unhealthy) permanent fatigue. Ill (or ill) does nothing, because he does not get pleasure and satisfaction from his activities. Personality is a vicious circle, the exit from which is not expected. From this grows the strongest depression, and as one of the dangerous consequences - suicidal thoughts.

Causes of the disease

Among the causes of anhedonia we will distinguish two voluminous groups:

• Physiological;
• Psychological.

The first group includes specific physiological disorders of the body. In the vast majority of cases, these disorders are observed in the endocrine system. That is, there is a failure in the development of certain hormones - dopamine. In this case, both a serious examination and an integrated approach to treatment are needed.

Psychological causes of the disease can be associated with mental disorders (they can be identified by tests in psychiatry and various studies, which we will not dwell on, because this is already a branch of deep psychiatry).

The psychological cause of the disease may be depression or severe mental stress.

Do I need to heal?

Speaking about treatment, we mean the disease as an element of depression or an independent disorder. If we are talking about anhedonia as a symptom of mental disorders of the individual, the treatment of a psychiatrist is clearly necessary.

Anhedonia can have both psychological and physical roots (see the section on the causes of the disease). Physiological, in most cases, require medical therapy, including hormonal therapy. Psychological can be stopped with the help of a specialist and under his guidance at home. In any case, a clear diagnosis and consultation of professionals is necessary.

Ancedonia: treatment

Medicine does not stand still in the field of psychology and psychiatry.

Angedonia - what is it? A symptom of a mental disorder, a consequence of hormonal failure or an independent disease. From the definition in each specific case depends treatment.

The first type, as we have already said, treats psychiatry. Patients can be socially dangerous and isolated from society.

With hormonal problems, adequate intervention by the endocrinologist is necessary, since the disease can be associated with a violation of the adrenal gland or thyroid gland.

And, finally, anhedonia as an independent disease. There is not necessarily medical treatment, but almost always it is necessary to visit a psychologist.

How not to get sick

If you are mentally healthy, do not use drugs and are not at risk, it does not mean that you have no chance of contracting a disease called anhedonia. What is it, we already know, the question remained open: how not to get sick?

First, it is worth remembering the ability to enjoy life. The reason for joy is not so difficult to find. If you and your family are healthy, next to a loved one is the reasons for joy. Have you completed your successful / not quite project? This is also an excitement to rejoice, since in case of its successful completion, it will bring a reward, and if you did it not quite as you wanted, it will be a lesson and another step to success.

Hormones of joy - endorphins - are developed and replenished not only with the help of a hormonal background or drug replacement. Contemplation of the beauty of nature, communication with beloved animals (especially well learn to rejoice and even treat a cat's depression) contribute to the development of dopamine and protect you from the development of anhedonia. Do not forget about sports. Physical activity stimulates mental activity, and relaxation after the work of the muscles itself already brings pleasure.

Instead of conclusions

Tests for psychiatry easily determine the disease. Also, with their help, an experienced doctor can understand what is at issue: an independent disease or a symptom of a serious mental disorder. But in any case, do not confuse medical tests with the psychological tests that the network is full of. The first ones were created for the diagnosis, and the latter for the readers' entertainment.

Anhedonia is a disease that deprives a person of joy. The ability to enjoy activity is the main source of inspiration, in the absence of it, a person loses the desire to do something, falls into apathy and depression. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of the disease in yourself or your loved ones, it is worth urgently to see a doctor, until the time is lost, and with it the chances of a successful cure.