Family history of mood disorders is associated with the severity of anhedonia and eating disorders symptoms in patients with depression
Background. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, one of the most important symptoms of which is anhedonia. There is a known association between the severity of anhedonia and symptoms of eating disorders (ED), which can also emerge as a part of a depression. The severity of anhedonia and symptoms of ED in depression is variable and is associated with genetic factors. In routine clinical practice, the combination of genetic factors influencing the risk of developing depression and its clinical manifestations is characterized by the concept of family history (FH) of mood disorders. Therefore, FH of mood disorders can be associated with the severity of anhedonia, ED symptoms and their relationship in patients with depression. Materials and methods. 200 in- and outpatients with depression (64% women, mean age (SD) - 36.21 (15.09) years) were included. Data on FH of mood disorders, the presence of anhedonia symptoms and changes in appetite were obtained during clinical interview. The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) were used for more thorough assessment of severity of anhedonia and ED symptoms. For statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney and Pearson’s χ2 tests, logistic and linear regression and general linear model (GLM) were used. Results. 28% of patients reported FH of mood disorders, 95.5% - symptoms of anhedonia. Patients with FH were less likely reported anhedonia symptoms during a depressive episode (89.3% vs. 97.9%, p=0.008). However, no difference in the severity of current anhedonia assessed by SHAPS was found. Linear regression showed that greater anhedonia severity assessed by SHAPS was associated with greater severity of bulimic symptoms assessed by EAT-26 (OR=0.161, CI95% [0.01-0.201]), p=0.031). GLM showed that combination of FH and increased appetite during a depressive episode is associated the severity of bulimic symptoms as measured by EAT-26 (p=0.024). Presence of FH may reduce the prominence of the association between an increased appetite and the development of bulimic symptoms. Conclusion. Our results showed that FH of mood disorders can be associated with the severity and subjective perception of anhedonia and affect the development of ED symptoms in patients with depression.