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Research Article: The association of different dimensions of anhedonia in the relationship between depressive symptoms and self-harm in adolescents with mood disorders

Date Published: 2026-06-04

Abstract:
An increasing number of adolescents with mood disorders engage in self-harm. Anhedonia is independently associated with self-harm. Exploratory analyses in this cross-sectional study examined the associations of different dimensions of anhedonia in self-harm to provide additional theoretical support for self-harm intervention. This study recruited 252 adolescents aged 12–18 years with mood disorders, and divided them into high-risk (n=143) and low-risk (n=109) groups based on suicide risk, and recruited 120 normal control participants. Data collected included depressive and anxiety symptoms (HAMD-24, HAMA-14), different dimensions of anhedonia, including the anticipatory anhedonia (TEPS-A)and consummatory anhedonia (TEPS-C), Social Anhedonia (RSAS), and the somatic Anhedonia (RPAS), and suicidal ideation (PANSI), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide attempts (SA). All anhedonia dimensions and self-harm indicators differed significantly across groups (high-risk > low-risk > controls, all P < 0.001). anticipatory anhedonia (TEPS-A) [B = –0.194, P = 0.043, 95% CI (–0.382, –0.006)] and consummatory anhedonia (TEPS-C) [B = –0.228, P = 0.016, 95% CI (–0.413, –0.042)] were independently and negatively associated with PANSI. Somatic anhedonia (RPAS) were independently and positively associated with NSSI [B = 0.642, P = 0.001, 95% CI (0.255, 1.030)] and SA (OR = 1.050, P = 0.024, 95% CI [1.006, 1.097]). Anticipatory anhedonia (TEPS-A) showed a significant indirect effect in the relationship between depressive symptoms and PANSI [B = 0.051, 95% CI (0.006, 0.105)]. Somatic anhedonia (RPAS) showed a significant indirect effect in the relationship between depressive symptoms and NSSI [B = 0.241, 95% CI (0.118, 0.389)], and together with NSSI and PANSI, formed a significant sequential indirect effect to SA [B = 0.0012, 95% CI (0.0002, 0.0026)]. Different anhedonia dimensions demonstrate distinct associations with self-harm: anticipatory anhedonia was associated with suicidal ideation, whereas somatic anhedonia connects to NSSI and suicide attempts. These findings support dimensional-specific clinical assessment and targeted interventions. Causal inference is not possible due to the cross-sectional design, and longitudinal studies are needed to establish temporal relationships and causal mechanisms.

Introduction:
Self-harm is a general term for intentional acts of self-injury, encompassing both suicide attempt (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). It is a pathological behavior characterized by complex mechanisms and extremely serious consequences. Suicide attempt (SA) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are distinct yet inextricably linked, and both can serve as predictors of suicide ( 1 , 2 ). In the past decades, an increase in the incident rate of suicide attempt (SA) and NSSI in adolescents has been observed, which…

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