Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS)

The DARS is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure state anhedonia, that is, the current reduction in interest, motivation, effort expended, and pleasure experienced in response to usually rewarding experiences. It explores four clinically useful domains: hobbies, food and drinks, social activities, and sensory experiences. Its distinctive feature is that it asks the patient to name their own enjoyed activities or experiences, which improves clinical relevance and limits the cultural bias associated with imposed examples. The DARS is particularly useful in the assessment of depressive disorders and mood disorders, as well as in the longitudinal monitoring of anhedonia in clinical practice, in research, or during treatment. Its subdimension profile helps identify whether the impairment mainly concerns interest, initiating action, effort investment, or pleasure itself.