Effort–cost computation in a transdiagnostic psychiatric sample: Differences among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Issue 2 (6th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zou, Ying‐Min; Ni, Ke; Wang, Yan‐Yu; Yu, En‐Qing; Lui, Simon S. Y.; Zhou, Fu‐Chun; Yang, Han‐Xue; Cohen, Alex S.; Strauss, Gregory P.; Cheung, Eric F. C.; Chan, Raymond C. K.
• Other Names: CK Chan Raymond guestEditor.; Barkus Emma guestEditor.; Sun Hongwei guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: PsyCh Journal. Volume 9:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 222
• Publication Date: 2019-11-06
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1002/pchj.316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-0252

Abstract

Abstract: Amotivational symptoms are observed in schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). Effort–cost computation may be a potential contributor to amotivation transdiagnostically. This study examined effort–cost computation in these three diagnostic groups. This study recruited 141 outpatients (49 SCZ, 52 non‐psychotic BD, and 40 non‐psychotic MDD) and 57 healthy controls (HCs). We administered the Effort‐Expenditure for Reward Task (EEfRT), which manipulated different levels of reward magnitude and probability relating to a high and low physical effort task. There were significant interactions between group and reward magnitude, group and reward probability, and group and expected value on the percentage of high‐effort choices. SCZ, BD, and MDD patients made comparably fewer high‐effort choices than HCs in the high‐reward magnitude, high‐reward probability, and high‐expected‐value conditions. Self‐reported amotivation did not correlate with decision‐making on the EEfRT. Our findings suggest that reduced effort expenditure for reward is a transdiagnostic phenotype in SCZ, BD, and MDD.