Objective:

To examine the associations of different dimensions of anhedonia with self-harm in adolescents with mood disorders, emphasizing the exploratory nature of the study.

Key Findings:

• All anhedonia dimensions and self-harm indicators significantly differed across groups (high-risk > low-risk > controls, all P < 0.001), highlighting the importance of these dimensions in understanding self-harm.
• Anticipatory anhedonia was negatively associated with suicidal ideation, indicating a potential protective factor.
• Somatic anhedonia was positively associated with NSSI and suicide attempts, suggesting a risk factor.
• Anticipatory anhedonia showed an indirect effect in the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, emphasizing its role in mental health.
• Somatic anhedonia demonstrated an indirect effect in the relationship between depressive symptoms and NSSI, indicating its relevance in self-harm behaviors.

Interpretation:

Different dimensions of anhedonia are associated with self-harm in distinct ways, suggesting the need for dimensional-specific clinical assessments and interventions.

Limitations:

• Causal inference is not possible due to the cross-sectional design.
• Longitudinal studies are needed to establish temporal relationships and causal mechanisms.
• Sample diversity may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusion:

The findings support the need for targeted interventions based on specific dimensions of anhedonia, emphasizing the importance of addressing these dimensions in clinical practice.