Efficacy and target engagement of dopamine agonist pramipexole for anhedonic depression: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

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Anhedonia is a significant symptom in mood disorders, associated with poor treatment response and increased suicide risk.
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Pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, targets the D3 receptor and may alleviate anhedonia in patients with mood disorders.
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The study involved 85 patients with MDD, dysthymia, or bipolar depression, randomized to receive pramipexole or placebo.
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Primary outcome was assessed using the Snaith−Hamilton Pleasure Scale, measuring changes in anhedonia symptoms.
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The study aimed to evaluate pramipexole's clinical efficacy and its effects on reward-related neurocircuitry using fMRI.

Nature Medicine

by Filip Ventorp, Marie Asp, Sofia Olsson, Jesper Lindahl, Stefan Möller, Martina Svensson, Filip Ängeby, Armida Pravdinske, Johanna Tjernberg, Susann Schrey, Darya Ståhl, Viktor Magnusson, Emilia Eliasson, Anna Agelii-Weber, Erika Stålhammar, Danielle van Westen, Tomas Deierborg, Kristoffer N. T. Månsson, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Åsa Hammar, Åsa B. Tornberg, Johannes Björkstrand, Daniel Lindqvist
June 12, 2026

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