Avolition in schizophrenia: associations with trait and state anhedonia

Introduction Current research suggested that avolition in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) is not due to a deficit of hedonic experience, but to a poor ability to translate pleasurable experiences into motivational states. In line with this hypothesis, several evidences showed a preserved hedonic experience, even in the presence of severe trait anhedonia and avolition in SCZ. Objectives To test the hypothesis that memory dysfunction, generally found in SCZ, could lead to inaccurate representations of emotional experiences and interfere with translation of pleasurable experience in motivation. Aims The present study was aimed to investigate the relationships between state and trait anhedonia, avolition and cognitive functioning in 35 SCZ. Methods In SCZ and matched healthy controls (HC) the Temporal experience of Pleasure (TEPS) and Chapman's scales were used to assess trait anhedonia. The MID task was used to assess in-the-moment hedonic experience. Avolition was measured by the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery was used to assess cognition. Results SCZ did not differ from HC on TEPS or on MID task performance but reported higher scores for trait social anhedonia. Trait social anhedonia was associated with memory dysfunction and showed a correlation with avolition. Conclusions Our results confirm the disjunction between state and trait anhedonia and demonstrate a relationship of the latter with memory impairment and avolition, suggesting that inaccurate representations of emotional experiences might impede their translation in motivation to act.