Neural sensitivity following stress predicts anhedonia symptoms: a 2-year multi-wave, longitudinal study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Animal models of depression show that acute stress negatively impacts functioning in neural regions sensitive to reward and punishment, often manifesting as anhedonic behaviors. However, few human studies have probed stress-induced neural activation changes in relation to anhedonia, which is critical for clarifying risk for affective disorders. Participants (N = 85, 12-14-years-old, 53 female), oversampled for risk of depression, were administered clinical assessments and completed an fMRI guessing task to probe neural response to receipt of rewards and losses. After the initial task run, participants received an acute stressor and then, were re-administered the guessing task. Including baseline, participants provided up to 10 self-report assessments of life stress and symptoms over a 2-year period. Linear mixed-effects models estimated whether change in neural activation (post- vs. pre-acute stressor) moderated the longitudinal associations between life stress and symptoms over time. Primary analyses indicated that adolescents with stress-related reductions in right ventral striatum response to rewards exhibited stronger longitudinal associations between life stress and anhedonia severity (pFDR=.048). Secondary analyses showed that longitudinal associations among life stress and depression severity were moderated by stress-related increases in dorsal striatum response to rewards (pFDR<.002). Additionally, longitudinal associations among life stress and anxiety severity were moderated by stress-related reductions in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and right anterior insula response to loss (pFDR≤.012). All results held when adjusting for comorbid symptoms. Results show convergence with animal models, highlighting mechanisms that may facilitate stress-induced anhedonia as well as a separable pathway for the emergence of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Source: Translational Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02818-x

Authors: Jaclyn S. Kirshenbaum, David Pagliaccio, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Randy P. Auerbach

Institutions: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, Harvard University, McLean Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,990

Funders: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Dana Foundation, Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation, Tommy Fuss Fund, Sunovion, Neurocrine Biosciences, Sage Therapeutics, National Institutes of Health, Takeda Oncology, National Institute of Mental Health

OpenAlex ID: W4392058470