Validation of the specific loss of interest and pleasure scale in non-clinical and clinical populations

Introduction The Specific Loss of Interest and Pleasure Scale (SLIPS) is a novel measure specifically designed to capture recent changes in anhedonia. The present study aimed to investigate its psychometric properties in Chinese settings. Materials Participants included a non-clinical sample ( n = 1,251) and a clinical sample ( n = 224; 190 mixed psychiatric patients and 34 healthy controls). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using polychoric correlations with parallel analysis and the minimum average partial test, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using the WLSMV estimator, correlation analyses, and hierarchical regression models were used. Results The unidimensional structure was supported. The CFA results in the non-clinical sample showed satisfactory model fit ( χ 2 (227) = 375.771 ( p < 0.001), scaled CFI = 0.981, scaled TLI = 0.979, scaled RMSEA = 0.032[90% CI: 0.026, 0.038], SRMR = 0.055). Internal consistency was robust (non-clinical: Cronbach’s α = 0.90[95%CI: 0.90, 0.91], McDonald’s ω = 0.91[95%CI: 0.90, 0.92]; clinical: Cronbach’s α = 0.96[95%CI: 0.95, 0.97], McDonald’s ω = 0.96[95%CI: 0.95, 0.97]). Test–retest reliability for a 1-month interval ( n = 321) indicated moderate stability (ICC[2,1] = 0.55[95%CI: 0.47, 0.62]), and strict longitudinal measurement invariance was established (ΔCFI<0.01). Discussion Validity analyses showed that the SLIPS correlated with state, trait, and social anhedonia but was distinct from guilt. Crucially, the SLIPS demonstrated incremental validity in predicting depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared with state and trait anhedonia. The Chinese version of the SLIPS demonstrated promising psychometric evidence in assessing changes in anhedonia. However, inferences regarding specific clinical subgroups (e.g., MDD) are limited by sample size and require further validation.