Correlation and gender differences between metacognition function and anhedonia in patients with stable schizophrenia
Kong Hui
Fang Wenmei
Ye Lingfei
Wang Yue
Xie Tianqin
Li Yifei
Dong Yi
Zhu Daomin
Abstract：Objective To explore the correlation and gender differences between metacognition function and anhedonia in patients with stable schizophrenia.Methods A total of 87 patients with stable schizophrenia who were treated at the Mental Health Hospital of Anhui Medical University(the Fourth People's Hospital of Hefei)between October 2022 and January 2024 were included.Based on gender,the patients were divided into a male group(n=43)and a female group(n=44).The Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview(IPII),revised Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated(MAS-A),Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale(TEPS),and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)were used to assess patients'metacognition function,anhedonia,and psychotic symptoms.Differences in clinical data between male group(n=43)and female group(n=44)were compared.Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association between patients'metacognition function and anhedonia.Results Male group's total metacognition score[(6.98±2.87)vs.(8.25±2.95)]and decentralization score[0(0,0)vs.(0(0,0.50)],and positive symptom score on the PANSS[8.00(7.00,11.00)vs.11.00(9.00,14.75)]were lower than those in female group,with statistically significant differences(t=-2.038,-3.009,-3.827;all P＜0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that scores of understanding others'thoughts,decentralization,and the MAS-A total score were predictors of TEPS scores(β=0.278,0.249,0.255;all P＜0.05),understanding others'thoughts score was a predictor of anticipatory anhedonia scores(β=0.249,P＜0.05),understanding others'thoughts score,decentralization score,and MAS-A total score were predictors of consummatory anhedonia scores(β=0.269,0.331,0.289;all P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis revealed that in female group,scores on self-reflection,understanding others'thoughts,decentralization,self-control,and the MAS-A total score were statistical predictors of consummatory anhedonia scores(β=0.366,0.395,0.365,0.471、0.586;all P＜0.05),and scores on understanding others'thoughts,and the MAS-A total score were statistical predictors of the TEPS total score(β=0.335,0.461;all P＜0.05).These findings were not replicated in male group.Conclusions In patients with stable schizophrenia,metacognition function is strongly associated with anhedonia,and this correlation is particularly pronounced in the female population.
Keywords：SchizophreniaStableMetacognitionAnhedoniaGenderCorrelation
Publication Date：2026-02-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-11(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 86-92 )