Focusing on recovery goals improves motivation in first-episode psychosis

Daniel Fulford, Piper S. Meyer-Kalos, Kim T. Mueser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Diminished motivation (e.g., low drive, curiosity, and engagement in activities) is associated with robust impairment in psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia, yet even the most effective evidence-based interventions rarely effect meaningful change in motivation. Individual Resiliency Training (IRT) is a psychosocial treatment for individuals following a first episode of psychosis, supporting motivation through recovery goal setting and pursuit. The extent to which such an approach might improve motivation over time is unknown. Method: We tested the impact of exposure to IRT modules focused on goal setting and attainment on motivation and functional outcomes among participants in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode-Early Treatment Program (RAISE-ETP). In the sample of 404 individuals with a first episode of psychosis receiving treatment across 34 community sites, we ran mixed-effect models with group (exposed to four or more goal-focused IRT sessions vs. Community Care (CC)), time (baseline, six- and 12-month follow-up), and the group-by-time interaction as predictors of motivation, role and social functioning. We also ran these analyses with those exposed to three or fewer goal-focused IRT sessions compared to CC. Results: Controlling for gender, ethnicity, baseline cognition, and total number of outpatient mental health visits, exposure to four or more goal-focused IRT sessions was associated with greater improvements in motivation and role functioning compared to CC; effects were not observed for social functioning. Participants receiving three or fewer goal-focused IRT sessions did not differ from those in CC in these outcomes. Further, sensitivity analysis showed that general exposure to IRT was not associated with differential outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that sufficient focus on recovery goal setting and support in psychosocial intervention for first-episode psychosis may have specific impact on motivation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1629-1637
Number of pages9
JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume55
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • First-episode psychosis
  • Goal setting
  • Motivation
  • Psychosocial treatment

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