Delay discounting in emotional disorders: A three-level meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Delay discounting (DD) has been proposed as a transdiagnostic mechanism underlying diverse psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions. Although extensive research has examined DD patterns in patients with emotional disorders (EDs), the direction and magnitude in EDs relative to healthy controls (HCs) remains controversial.
METHODS
This study employed a three-level meta-analysis to quantify DD differences between EDs (including depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorders) and HCs through a quantitative synthesis of eligible studies published until December 2024, and further test moderating effects of sample characteristics, clinical characteristics, and methodological characteristics.
RESULTS
A total of 19 studies (N = 3263 participants; k = 75 effect sizes) were included. Results indicated significantly steeper DD and stronger immediate reward preferences in EDs compared to HCs, with a similar pattern observed in depressive disorders subgroup. In the emotional disorder model, this difference was moderated by reward magnitude and reward type. In the depressive disorder model, this difference was moderated by reward magnitude and DD task. No significant moderation effects were found for age, gender, region, diagnostic category, symptom severity, suicide attempts or DD index.
CONCLUSIONS
This study presents the first meta-analysis to examine DD in patients with emotional disorders. The findings promote the in-depth understanding of DD in EDs and have…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 3,263 participants or records.
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