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Translational Models of Dopaminergic Mechanisms for Motivational Deficits in Anhedonic Patients

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Anhedonia: A Comprehensive Handbook Volume I

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Abstract

Anhedonia is a core symptom of multiple psychiatric disorders, the neurobiological substrates of remain poorly understood. Despite significant preclinical advances in the identification of specific sub-components of reward processing, clinical definitions of anhedonia primarily emphasize reductions in pleasure and positive emotionality, while impaired motivation is often neglected. Here, we review recent evidence suggesting that motivational deficits may reflect an important dimension of symptomatology that is discrete from traditional definitions of anhedonia in terms of both behavior and pathophysiology. In summarizing this work, we highlight the use of translational models such as effort-based decision-making as important tools for elucidating the biological basis of motivational deficits in clinical populations. Finally, we touch on some of the implications of this work for improving diagnosis and treatment.

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Abbreviations

MDD:

Major Depressive Disorder

DA:

Dopamine

VS:

Ventral striatum

BDI:

Beck Depression Inventory

SHAPS:

Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale

FCPS:

Fawcett-Clark Pleasure Scale

SANS:

Scale of Negative Symptoms

TEPS:

Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale

EEfRT:

Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Depression, Anxiety and Stress Research, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, USA

    Michael T. Treadway

  2. Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Michael T. Treadway

  3. Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA

    David H. Zald

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA

    David H. Zald

Authors
  1. Michael T. Treadway
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  2. David H. Zald
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Correspondence to Michael T. Treadway .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Haifa & Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Israel Institute of Technology, Hadera, Israel

    Michael S. Ritsner

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Treadway, M.T., Zald, D.H. (2014). Translational Models of Dopaminergic Mechanisms for Motivational Deficits in Anhedonic Patients. In: Ritsner, M. (eds) Anhedonia: A Comprehensive Handbook Volume I. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8591-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8591-4_7

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