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Transdiagnostic links of reward processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression

Wagner, Kevin ; Cervin, Matti LU ; Cheng, Jessica ; Arriaga, Jasmine ; Zavala Cruz, Vaness ; Berrones, Dayan ; Munoz, Josselun ; Frederick, Renee ; Anderberg, Jacey and Nunez Bracho, Belinda , et al. (2025) In Journal of Affective Disorders
Abstract
Objectives
Transdiagnostic models aim to uncover shared mechanisms across mental disorders. Reward responsiveness (the ability to experience pleasure from rewarding stimuli) is a plausible, yet underexplored, transdiagnostic mechanism linking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This study used network analysis to (1) examine how key reward responsiveness domains are interlinked in individuals with OCD and (2) explore how each domain is uniquely associated with OCD and depression.

Methods
A total of 1345 individuals with a history of OCD symptoms (ages 18–88, 71 % women) from Latino communities in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and nine Latin American countries completed validated measures of... (More)
Objectives
Transdiagnostic models aim to uncover shared mechanisms across mental disorders. Reward responsiveness (the ability to experience pleasure from rewarding stimuli) is a plausible, yet underexplored, transdiagnostic mechanism linking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This study used network analysis to (1) examine how key reward responsiveness domains are interlinked in individuals with OCD and (2) explore how each domain is uniquely associated with OCD and depression.

Methods
A total of 1345 individuals with a history of OCD symptoms (ages 18–88, 71 % women) from Latino communities in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and nine Latin American countries completed validated measures of reward responsiveness, OCD, and depression. Network analyses evaluated interrelations among reward responsiveness domains and their links to OCD and depression.

Results
Hobbies and social interactions were the most central domains in the reward responsiveness network. Higher OCD severity was uniquely associated with lower responsiveness to social interactions, while higher depression severity was uniquely linked to reduced responsiveness in hobbies and goal-directed behaviors.

Conclusions
Reward responsiveness is relevant to both OCD and depression. Interventions that enhance engagement in central domains, such as hobbies and social interactions, may improve outcomes. Future research should explore reward responsiveness in other mental disorders to inform transdiagnostic intervention strategies. (Less)
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author collaboration
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Affective Disorders
article number
119886
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40675261
  • scopus:105011404413
ISSN
0165-0327
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2025.119886
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a3a840d6-642d-48af-8974-c4237761118c
date added to LUP
2025-09-04 21:30:24
date last changed
2025-09-05 08:16:06
@article{a3a840d6-642d-48af-8974-c4237761118c,
  abstract     = {{Objectives<br/>Transdiagnostic models aim to uncover shared mechanisms across mental disorders. Reward responsiveness (the ability to experience pleasure from rewarding stimuli) is a plausible, yet underexplored, transdiagnostic mechanism linking obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. This study used network analysis to (1) examine how key reward responsiveness domains are interlinked in individuals with OCD and (2) explore how each domain is uniquely associated with OCD and depression.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>A total of 1345 individuals with a history of OCD symptoms (ages 18–88, 71 % women) from Latino communities in the United States (including Puerto Rico) and nine Latin American countries completed validated measures of reward responsiveness, OCD, and depression. Network analyses evaluated interrelations among reward responsiveness domains and their links to OCD and depression.<br/><br/>Results<br/>Hobbies and social interactions were the most central domains in the reward responsiveness network. Higher OCD severity was uniquely associated with lower responsiveness to social interactions, while higher depression severity was uniquely linked to reduced responsiveness in hobbies and goal-directed behaviors.<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>Reward responsiveness is relevant to both OCD and depression. Interventions that enhance engagement in central domains, such as hobbies and social interactions, may improve outcomes. Future research should explore reward responsiveness in other mental disorders to inform transdiagnostic intervention strategies.}},
  author       = {{Wagner, Kevin and Cervin, Matti and Cheng, Jessica and Arriaga, Jasmine and Zavala Cruz, Vaness and Berrones, Dayan and Munoz, Josselun and Frederick, Renee and Anderberg, Jacey and Nunez Bracho, Belinda and Adorno, Victor and Fontenelle, Leonardo F. and Wiese, Andrew and Crowley, James J. and Storch, Eric}},
  issn         = {{0165-0327}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Affective Disorders}},
  title        = {{Transdiagnostic links of reward processing in obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119886}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jad.2025.119886}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}