LOSS OF INTEREST

Symptoms

Patients often no longer experience all forms of pleasure, whether sensual, physical, emotional, or spiritual. They no longer enjoy their favorite activities, they lose the desire to pursue their hobbies, they become indifferent to their own successes and those of their family members, they stop savoring their favorite dishes, they do not want to go to the movies, buy something new to wear, or meet up with friends. They often say that their life has become somewhat gray.

Causes

Loss of interest is often one of the symptoms of depression. It can also accompany other mental health conditions, such as abulia, anhedonia, schizophrenia, and other delusional psychoses resulting from altered perceptions of reality. People who are addicted to psychoactive substances experience similar feelings.

Treatment

In most cases, treatment with pharmacotherapy is needed in addition to psychotherapy, at least in the initial phase of therapy. The patient must be motivated to undergo treatment, and this is extremely difficult due to the loss of all interests. In therapy, it is important to identify the causes of the person’s motivational state and to try to find a solution that addresses the problem at its source. It is essential to activate and motivate the patient and to support them in their efforts so that they can see the positive effects. Pharmacotherapy, on the other hand, involves administering antidepressants and medications that increase the patient’s willingness to act and motivation—for example, medications that increase the release of dopamine.