Anhedonia Beyond Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With Conduct Disorder

NCT07849985 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: Depression Children&Adolescen
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 90
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Conduct Disorder (CD) is a common psychiatric disorder among children and adolescents and is characterized by a persistent pattern of behaviors that violate the rights of others or major age-appropriate social norms and rules. Although CD is traditionally classified as an externalizing disorder, evidence suggests that some affected adolescents also show abnormalities in emotional and motivational processing, particularly in reward and punishment responsiveness. Anhedonia, defined as reduced ability to experience pleasure, is traditionally considered a core symptom of depression but is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic construct that may reflect disturbances in reward processing. Importantly, altered reward responsiveness is not synonymous with clinical anhedonia, and clinically measured anhedonia in adolescents with CD remains insufficiently characterized. Depressive symptoms may contribute to anhedonia and therefore require assessment and statistical control. ADHD is also frequently comorbid with CD and may independently influence reward processing and motivation. Callous-Unemotional traits may additionally overlap with emotional blunting. Therefore, the present study will compare anhedonia in adolescents with CD with or without comorbid ADHD, and healthy controls, while accounting for depressive symptoms and relevant clinical covariates.

Conditions

Conduct Disorder; Depression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• SHAPS total score

  SHAPS total score, representing overall anhedonia severity

  baseline

Study Arms (2)

cases group

Participants meeting criteria for Conduct Disorder

control group

healthy control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants aged 12-17 years will be recruited consecutively from the outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry service. Participants meeting criteria for Conduct Disorder will form the clinical group. Healthy controls of comparable age, sex, and socioeconomic status will be recruited from community or school settings. ADHD comorbidity will be assessed within the Conduct Disorder group

You may qualify if:

• Age 12-17 years.
• CD groups: meeting DSM-5 criteria for Conduct Disorder confirmed using the Arabic K-SADS-PL-C DSM-5.
• Control group: no current or previous psychiatric diagnosis according to the Arabic K-SADS-PL-C DSM-5.
• Ability to understand and complete the assessment procedures.
• Written informed consent from a parent/legal guardian and written assent from the adolescent.

You may not qualify if:

• Intellectual disability or severe cognitive impairment interfering with reliable assessment.
• Autism spectrum disorder or severe neurodevelopmental disorder interfering with self-report.
• Current psychotic disorder.
• Current or past bipolar I disorder or manic episode.
• Current major depressive episode meeting full diagnostic criteria.
• Current severe substance use disorder.
• Known neurological disorder, including epilepsy or severe traumatic brain injury.
• Major uncontrolled medical condition likely to substantially affect mood or hedonic functioning.
• Current medication expected to substantially affect reward processing or anhedonia, where clinically relevant.
• Acute suicidal risk or psychiatric condition requiring immediate crisis intervention/hospitalization.
• Refusal to participate or inability to complete the assessment. Stable stimulant treatment for ADHD may be permitted when clinically necessary and will be recorded as a covariate.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Assiut University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Conduct Disorder; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: residant doctor at Assiut university hospital

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 24, 2026
• First Posted: September 30, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09