Prediction of longitudinal functional outcomes in schizophrenia: the impact of baseline motivational deficits.

Emerging evidence suggests that motivational deficits are a central component of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and linked to functional impairment characterizing this illness. This study extends previous cross-sectional findings by examining the concurrent contributions of baseline motivational deficits, other negative symptoms, and other symptom domains on longitudinal functional outcomes in schizophrenia. Results of this longitudinal examination of 18 patients from our previous pilot study reveal that amotivation accounts for 74% and 72% of the variance in functional outcomes at baseline and 6-month follow-up, respectively. These findings further suggest a fundamental role for motivational deficits in predicting functional outcomes in schizophrenia.