Behavioral approach and avoidance in schizophrenia: An evaluation of motivational profiles

L. Felice Reddy, Michael F. Green, Shemra Rizzo, Catherine A. Sugar, Jack J. Blanchard, Raquel E. Gur, Ann M. Kring, William P. Horan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Schizophrenia is associated with motivational deficits that interfere with a wide range of goal directed activities. Despite their clinical importance, our current understanding of these motivational impairments is limited. Furthermore, different types of motivational problems are commonly seen among individuals within the broad diagnosis of schizophrenia. The goal of the current study was to examine whether clinically meaningful subgroups could be identified based on approach and avoidance motivational tendencies. We measured these tendencies in 151 individuals with schizophrenia. Although prior studies demonstrate elevated BIS sensitivity in schizophrenia at the overall group level, none have explored various combinations of BIS/BAS sensitivities within this disorder. Cluster analyses yielded five subgroups with different combinations of low, moderate, or high BIS and BAS. The subgroups had interpretable differences in clinically rated negative symptoms and self-reported anhedonia/socio-emotional attitudes, which were not detectable with the more commonly used linear BIS/BAS scores. Two of the subgroups had significantly elevated negative symptoms but different approach/avoidance profiles: one was characterized by markedly low BIS, low BAS and an overall lack of social approach motivation; the other had markedly high BIS but moderate BAS and elevated social avoidance motivation. The two subgroups with relatively good clinical functioning showed patterns of BAS greater than BIS. Our findings indicate that there are distinct motivational pathways that can lead to asociality in schizophrenia and highlight the value of considering profiles based on combined patterns of BIS and BAS in schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)164-170
Number of pages7
JournalSchizophrenia Research
Volume159
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 .

Funding

This work was supported in part by NIH grant 1R01MH082890 to Dr. Kring, grants 1R01MH082783 and RO1 MH08272 to Dr. Gur, grant 1R01MH082839 to Dr. Blanchard, and grant 1R01MH082782 to Dr. Horan.

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health1R01MH082839, 1R01MH082890, 1R01MH082783, RO1 MH08272
National Institute of Mental HealthR01MH082782

    Keywords

    • BIS/BAS
    • Behavioral approach and avoidance
    • Motivation
    • Negative symptoms
    • Schizophrenia
    • Social anhedonia

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