Browsing by Author "Fischer, Melanie W."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Clarifying the Overlap Between Motivation and Negative Symptom Measures in Schizophrenia Research: A Meta-Analysis
    (Elsevier, 2019-04) Luther, Lauren; Fischer, Melanie W.; Firmin, Ruth L.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Psychology, School of Science
    Motivation and negative symptom research has recently been hampered by a series of inconsistent findings, leading to calls for a greater consensus on the type of measures used across studies. To inform this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis that quantified the association between motivation measures (self-report, performance-based) and clinician-rated negative symptom measures as well as a series of moderator analyses to develop a greater understanding of the measurement factors impacting this relationship. Forty-seven eligible studies with people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were included. Using a random-effects meta-analytic model, a small but significant overall effect size emerged between motivation and clinician-rated negative symptoms (r = −.18). Several significant moderators were identified, including the generation of negative symptom measures such that there was a significantly stronger relationship between motivation and second-generation (r = −.38) than first-generation negative symptom measures (r = −.17). Further, the type of performance-based measure used moderated the relationship, with effort discounting tasks most strongly related to negative symptoms (r = −.44). The domain of motivation assessed (intrinsic, extrinsic, amotivation) also moderated the relationship. These findings help to identify sources of inconsistencies observed in prior studies and point to both second-generation and effort discounting tasks as the most promising types of measures, particularly for those interested in validating motivation measures or assessing the effectiveness of motivation treatments. Although additional research is needed, our results suggest that using these measures may help to reduce inconsistencies across studies and move the field forward.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Metacognition moderates the relationship between self-reported and clinician-rated motivation in schizophrenia
    (Elsevier, 2020-03-01) Luther, Lauren; Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Fischer, Melanie W.; Johnson-Kwochka, Annalee V.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Psychology, School of Science
    Introduction Prior work has found varied relationships between self-reported and clinician-rated motivation measures in schizophrenia, suggesting that moderators might impact the strength of this relationship. This current study sought to identify whether metacognition – the ability to form complex representations about oneself, others, and the world – moderates the relationship between self-reported and clinician-rated motivation measures. We also explored whether clinical insight and neurocognition moderated this relationship. Methods Fifty-six participants with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder completed the Motivation and Pleasure Self-Report Scale and the clinician-rated motivation index from the Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale. Results Metacognition significantly moderated the relationship; self-reported and clinician-rated motivation were positively and significantly correlated only when metacognition was relatively high. Neither clinical insight nor neurocognition moderated the relationship. Discussion Metacognition appears to be a key variable impacting the strength of the relationship between self-reported and clinician-rated motivation measures and may help to partly explain the varied relationships observed in prior work. Using a metacognitive framework to guide assessment interviews and targeting metacognition in psychosocial treatments may help to improve the synchrony between self-perceptions and clinician ratings of motivation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Mobile Enhancement of Motivation in Schizophrenia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Personalized Text Message Intervention for Motivation Deficits
    (APA, 2020-10) Luther, Lauren; Holden, Richard; McCormick, Bryan; Fischer, Melanie W.; Johnson-Kwochka, Annalee V.; Minor, Kyle S.; Lapish, Chris L.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Psychology, School of Science
    Objective: Motivation deficits remain an unmet treatment need in schizophrenia. Recent research has identified mechanisms underlying motivation deficits (i.e., impaired effort-cost computations, reduced future reward-value representation maintenance) that may be effective treatment targets to improve motivation. This study tested the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of Mobile Enhancement of Motivation in Schizophrenia (MEMS), an intervention that leverages mobile technology to target these mechanisms with text messages. Method: Fifty-six participants with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder were randomized to MEMS (n = 27) or a control condition (n = 29). All participants set recovery goals to complete over 8 weeks. Participants in the MEMS group additionally received personalized, interactive text messages on their personal cellphones each weekday. Results: Retention and engagement in MEMS were high: 92.6% completed 8 weeks of MEMS, with an 86.1% text message response rate, and 100% reported being satisfied with the text messages. Compared to participants in the control condition, the participants in the MEMS condition had significantly greater improvements in interviewer-rated motivation and anticipatory pleasure and attained significantly more recovery-oriented goals at 8 weeks. There were no significant group differences in purported mechanisms (performance-based effort-cost computations and future reward-value representations) or in self-reported motivation, quality of life, or functioning. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that MEMS is feasible as a brief, low-intensity mobile intervention that could effectively improve some aspects of motivation (i.e., initiation and maintenance of goal-directed behaviors) and recovery goal attainment for those with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. More work is needed with larger samples and to understand the mechanisms of change in MEMS.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Nutrition Enhancement in Early Psychosis (Neep): A Feasibility Trial of Enhanced Nutrition with Text Messaging and a Dietary Tracking Mobile Application
    (2022-08) Fischer, Melanie W.; Salyers, Michelle; Minor, Kyle; Stewart, Jesse; Rivera, Rebecca; Leonhardt, Bethany
    Background. People with psychotic disorders tend to die earlier than the general population, primarily due to preventable cardiovascular disease. Behavioral risk factors, such as poor diet, have been identified as major contributors. Given the importance of prevention, the early stages of psychosis have been described as a “critical” time to intervene on health behaviors. As such, a mobile-based intervention, Nutrition Enhancement in Early Psychosis (NEEP) was created to improve diet quality in persons with early psychosis. This study has three aims: (1) assess the feasibility of the intervention, (2) examine preliminary outcomes, and (3) investigate mechanisms associated with dietary change. Methods. NEEP incorporates a combination of nutrition education, goal setting, and mobile technology (i.e., a mobile application for dietary tracking, as well both automated and personalized text-messages). Given the pilot nature of the study, all participants (N=15) received the intervention. Feasibility was assessed through different metrics related to recruitment and adherence to the dietary tracking application, as well as self-report responses regarding acceptability. Preliminary outcomes (i.e., two measures of diet quality) and potential mechanisms of change (i.e., self-efficacy and motivation) were also evaluated using paired sample t-tests. Qualitative interviews were conducted following study participation. Given the emphasis on feasibility with a small sample, all significance tests were set at p <.10, and Hedges g was used to examine effects over time. Results. 15 participants were enrolled in the study and 12 participants completed follow-up assessments. Evaluative measures of feasibility suggest that the majority of those who were screened enrolled in this intervention and regularly engaged with the mobile tracking device to record their dietary consumption. In addition, participants enjoyed the intervention and found it to be useful in improving their diet. Preliminary evidence also suggests this intervention may improve diet quality. As such, one indicator of improvement in diet quality was considered significant (Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants- Shortened; p=.084), and both measures of diet quality suggested improvement in diet at the end of the 28-day intervention with small to medium effect sizes (REAP-S g=.44; Heathy Eating Index-2015 g=.69). Contrary to hypotheses, self-efficacy significantly decreased after the intervention (p=.028) and motivation remained relatively stable. Conclusion. Results suggest that NEEP is feasible as a low-cost, low-resource mobile intervention that is well-tolerated and may improve diet quality in people with early psychosis; however, mechanisms of change require further exploration.