At present the key symptom for diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents is irritability. However a new study has found that the severity of anhedonia (the inability to gain pleasure from experiences that usually are enjoyable) rather than of irritability is associated with more severe MDD and worse clinical outcomes and suicide scores. Results of the study are published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (JCAP).“This is a pivotal study of the critical aspects of adolescent depression,” says Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology and president of the Child Mind Institute in New York. “The authors provide us with an insight that has significant implications for early intervention and effective treatment. Their work also reinforces the need for targeted studies of this disease in the adolescent population if we want to understand it and mitigate its harmful effects on youth.”

Source: Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (JCAP)
Full bibliographic information
Article Bibliographic Information:
Anhedonia, but not Irritability, Is Associated with Illness Severity Outcomes in Adolescent Major Depression
Gabbay Vilma, Johnson Amy R., Alonso Carmen M., Evans Lori K., Babb James S.., and Klein Rachel G.. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.