Exploring loss of interest and pleasure in depressed adolescents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring loss of interest and pleasure in depressed adolescents
IRAS ID
224531
Contact name
Rebecca Watson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health problems faced by adolescents (Ford, Goodman & Meltzer, 1999); with up to 20% of young people experiencing a depressive episode by the time they reach 18 years old (Lewinsohn, Rohde & Seeley, 1998; Thapar, Collishaw, Pine & Thapar, 2012). The development of MDD in adolescence is associated with increased risk of suicide and high rates of recurrence during adulthood (Bennik, Nederhof, Ormel & Oldehinkel, 2013).
In adolescents, depressed mood/ irritability or anhedonia must be present for a diagnosis of MDD (APA, 2013). Anhedonia, the loss of pleasure and interest in previously reinforcing activities, is experienced by approximately 50% of depressed adolescents (Orchard, Pass, Marshall, & Reynolds, 2015). Anhedonia can have particularly negative consequences during adolescence, when important life-course decisions are made (Lewinsohn, Rohde, Seeley, Klein & Gotlib, 2003). Anhedonia has also been identified as a potential predictor of poor treatment outcome in depressed adolescents (McMakin et al., 2012).
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2015) guidelines recommends psychological therapies (i.e. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Family Therapy, or Psycho-dynamic Therapy), and sometimes medication, for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. However, all treatments leave a large proportion of young people with residual symptoms, and rates of relapse are high (Goodyer et al., 2016). Research evidence is emerging to support the effectiveness of behavioural treatments for depression (i.e. Behavioural Activation), which aim to improve adolescents enjoyment and engagement in activities, therefore more directly addressing the symptom of anhedonia.Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore how anhedonia is experienced and understood by adolescents who meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. This will be achieved by conducting exploratory, qualitative interviews with young people (aged 13-18) referred via CAMHS to the Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY) research clinic.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1328
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion