title: Measuring motivation in schizophrenia: is a general state of motivation necessary for task-specific motivation?
abstract: Despite the important role of motivation in rehabilitation and functional outcomes in schizophrenia, to date, there has been little emphasis on how motivation is assessed. This is important, since different measures may tap potentially discrete motivational constructs, which in turn may have very different associations to important outcomes. In the current study, we used baseline data from 71 schizophrenia spectrum outpatients enrolled in a rehabilitation program to examine the relationship between task-specific motivation, as measured by the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), and a more general state of volition/initiation, as measured by the three item Quality of Life (QLS) motivation index. We also examined the relationship of these motivation measures to demographic, clinical and functional variables relevant to rehabilitation outcomes. The two motivation measures were not correlated, and participants with low general state motivation exhibited a full range of task-specific motivation. Only the QLS motivation index correlated with variables relevant to rehabilitation outcomes. The lack of associations between QLS motivation index and IMI subscales suggests that constructs tapped by these measures may be divergent in schizophrenia, and specifically that task-specific intrinsic motivation is not contingent on a general state of motivation. That is, even in individuals with a general low motivational state (i.e. amotivation), interventions aimed at increasing task-specific motivation may still be effective. Moreover, the pattern of interrelationships between the QLS motivation index and variables relevant to psychosocial rehabilitation supports its use in treatment outcome studies.
authors: Mental Health Services & Policy Research, Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr, Mailbox 100, New York, NY 10032 USA. Electronic address: jc3110@columbia.edu.
authors: Jimmy
authors: J
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Psychology, Korea University, Sungbuk-Ku, Anam-Dong, Seoul, 136-701, South Korea. Electronic address: kchoi1@korea.ac.kr.
authors: Kee-Hong
authors: KH
authors: Choi
authors: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) 210A, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, The Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. Electronic address: lenafelice@ucla.edu.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Felice Reddy
authors: Psychology Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave, West Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Electronic address: Joanna.fiszdon@yale.edu.
authors: Joanna M
authors: JM
authors: Fiszdon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008182:Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D057566:Self Report; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Intrinsic motivation; Motivation; Psychosocial rehabilitation; Quality of life scale; Schizophrenia