Effort-cost computation in a transdiagnostic psychiatric sample: Differences among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder

Authors

Ying-Min Zou, Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.
Ke Ni, Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.
Yan-Yu Wang, Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.
En-Qing Yu, Qiqihar Psychiatry Hospital, Heilongjiang, China.
Simon S. Lui, Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.
Fu-Chun Zhou, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Han-Xue Yang, Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.
Alex S. Cohen

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2020

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.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

PsyCh journal

First Page

210

Last Page

222

Recommended Citation

Zou, Y., Ni, K., Wang, Y., Yu, E., Lui, S. S., Zhou, F., Yang, H., & Cohen, A. S. (2020). Effort-cost computation in a transdiagnostic psychiatric sample: Differences among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. PsyCh journal, 9 (2), 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.316