Which symptom is defined as the inability to experience pleasure?

• A. Anhedonia
• B. Fatigue
• C. Insomnia
• D. Guilt

Answer: (A)

Inability to experience pleasure is called anhedonia. It’s a core symptom of depression and reflects a diminished ability to anticipate or derive satisfaction from normally rewarding activities, sometimes split into anticipatory (loss of looking forward to pleasures) and consummatory (reduced pleasure in the moment) aspects. In people living with HIV, depression is common and anhedonia can seriously affect motivation, social engagement, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, making it important to screen for and treat. Other options describe different symptoms: fatigue is about energy, insomnia about sleep, and guilt is a negative cognitive feeling rather than a loss of pleasure. If a patient reports little interest or pleasure in doing things, that points to anhedonia.