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What is Anhedonia?

Definition and Diagnosis

Anhedonia is the reduced ability to feel pleasure or interest in things that once felt meaningful or enjoyable. It's a key symptom in several mental health conditions, especially depression.

DSM-5: Describes anhedonia as a “markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.”

ICD-11: Lists anhedonia as a key symptom of depressive disorders, describing it as a "marked decrease in interest or enjoyment."

DSM-5 = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition

ICD-11 = International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision

Lived Experience

People describe anhedonia as feeling numb, disconnected, or “like a ghost in your own life.” Hearing from those with lived experience helps make this invisible symptom visible.

Facts and Figures

Anhedonia is more common than many realise, especially during adolescence and across a range of mental health diagnoses. It affects both emotional and social aspects of daily life.

Famous Voices

Public figures like Bob Mortimer have spoken openly about feeling emotionally flat or withdrawn—offering relatable insights into the quiet, isolating nature of anhedonia.

Following heart bypass surgery, Mortimer described feeling “very down.” His fishing trips in Gone Fishing became a way to reconnect with joy and emotional presence, showing how meaningful activities can gently ease symptoms of anhedonia.

He also captured the social withdrawal often involved:

“It can be very lonely knowing that you have things to say but you daren’t say them. Knowing that you could contribute to something but you don't dare quite do it.”

What is Joy?

Joy gives life colour, energy, and meaning. When it’s missing, as in anhedonia, everyday experiences can feel muted or empty. But understanding joy helps us understand what’s lost—and what might return.

Affects up to 70% of people with major depression disorder (MDD)
While often associated with depression, anhedonia is also a prominent symptom in schizophrenia but can also be a feature of other conditions like substance use disorders, Parkinson's disease, and chronic pain, with varying degrees of severity.
Anhedonia becomes increasingly common during adolescence, with studies reporting rates as high as 74% among 13–18-year-olds.
In adults aged 18–55, a data-driven study found that those experiencing anhedonia tended to be older, though the findings were limited by a small sample size.

Joy is a sense of connection, uplift, or meaning—found in laughter, music, nature, or love. It can be gentle or intense, but always adds depth and vitality to our days.
In anhedonia, this feeling dims. Activities that once brought pleasure may feel hollow, and even small joys can seem distant. It’s not sadness, but a flattening of emotional experience.
Still, moments of joy can break through—often unexpectedly—through creativity, connection, or sensory experiences. These glimpses matter. They show that joy hasn’t disappeared entirely.

Contributions from LEAP members:

What does joy feel like when it’s present?

What are moments when joy returned, even briefly?

Is Recovery Possible?

While anhedonia can be persistent, recovery is possible. With the right support, therapies, and creative approaches, people can reconnect with pleasure and meaning.

Recovery is often nonlinear.
Research shows that anhedonia can improve with:
- Therapy (e.g., CBT, behavioural activation, AVATAR therapy)
- Social connection
- Meaningful activity
- Innovations in digital tools, such as VR and mobile apps

Include one or two short case studies

References

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