Motivation Skills Training for Schizophrenia
Condition: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
MeSH terms: Schizophrenia; Psychotic Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study will take place at one outpatient clinic serving adults with serious mental
      illness and will recruit ten individuals (N=10) with a DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or
      schizoaffective disorder to participate in an Open Trial of Motivation Skills Training (MST).
      MST is a weekly group-based skills training intervention that aims to improve knowledge about
      one's level and sources of motivation, the ability to monitor and regulate (understand and
      manage) motivation, so that one can better initiate and sustain goal-directed behavior.
      Participants who consent for research will complete assessments of motivation, goal
      attainment, quality of life, executive functioning, community functioning, and psychiatric
      symptoms severity. The intervention phase will be approximately 12 weeks in duration and will
      entail weekly MST group sessions. At treatment endpoint, participants will be asked to repeat
      the assessment battery from baseline as well as a satisfaction survey. Change in motivation,
      goal attainment and quality of life will indicate whether MST is engaging the hypothesized
      target (motivation) and whether there is impact on functioning.
    

Detailed description: 
      Schizophrenia is a major public health problem associated with core motivational deficits
      that are amongst the strongest predictors of impaired functional outcomes. Without
      motivation, people are unable to maintain their pursuit of employment or educational goals,
      engage in treatment, and regularly participate in healthy life decisions. Current
      pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for schizophrenia have demonstrated limited
      effectiveness for improving this core symptom. Motivation Skills Training (MST) is a novel
      intervention that addresses this clinical need. The premise of MST is that knowledge about
      one's level and sources of motivation underlies the ability to regulate (i.e., understand and
      manage) motivation, and that motivation self-regulation can in turn facilitate task
      initiation and persistence. By facilitating goal-directed behavior, MST aims to enhance daily
      functioning and goal attainment in people with schizophrenia. MST teaches people about
      motivation and how to self-regulate motivation, empowering individuals to become active
      agents in controlling their own motivation and behavior. This study uses a 2-phase model of
      intervention testing to establish the feasibility, acceptability and pilot effectiveness of
      MST for adults ages 18-65 with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis. An initial open trial of
      MST in one outpatient clinic will provide stakeholder input on the acceptability and clinical
      utility of MST content and format, informing refinements to the treatment manual. A
      subsequent randomized controlled trial will test the effectiveness of MST versus a Healthy
      Behaviors Control (HBC) group, both conducted in the context of routine recovery-oriented
      services.
    

Intervention name(s): Motivation Skills Training (MST)
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): MST is a weekly group-based skills training intervention that aims to improve knowledge about one's level and sources of motivation, the ability to monitor and regulate (understand and manage) motivation, so that one can better initiate and sustain goal-directed behavior.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: Open Trial
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Motivation; Skills Training