Development and validation of a new adolescent self-report scale to measure loss of interest and pleasure: The Anhedonia Scale for Adolescents.

Anhedonia, the loss of interest and pleasure in previously enjoyable experiences, is a core symptom depression characteristic other mental health physical problems. Most self-report measures anhedonia has been developed for use with adults their suitability adolescents questionable. In this article, we describe development psychometric qualities new measure, Anhedonia Scale Adolescents (ASA), designed specifically aged 11-18 years. Items were generated from in-depth qualitative interviews depressed young people, then reviewed by an independent group people clinically qualified experts adolescent health. After piloting scale (n = 66), established structural validity measure two groups using exploratory 1057) confirmatory 1041) factor analysis. The final consisted 14 items, 1 general 3 specific factors producing best fit to data, (1) Enjoyment, Excitement, Emotional Flattening (negatively framed); (2) Enthusiasm, Connection, Purpose (positively (3) Effort, Motivation, Drive framed). ASA had high test-retest reliability converged standardized depression, negative symptoms schizophrenia, pleasure, positive affect. Findings these analyses provided evidence incremental validity, as was stronger predictor clinical (high vs. low depressive symptoms) than existing used assess anhedonia. potential research tool (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).