PRIME Provides Durable Improvements in Motivation and Related Constructs
schizophrenia, Depression, breast cancer
BREAST CANCER
The total sample showed improvements in a majority of the motivational domains, and these improvements were sustained at the 6-month follow-up. These included changes in experiential pleasure (MAPS social pleasure, MAPS work and recreation, and TEPS consummatory pleasure), MAPS motivation to engage in activities, and ratings of overall motivation; improvement in feelings of self-efficacy; and a reduction in defeatist beliefs. Notably, these benefits also appear to be reflected in the negative symptom measures (QSANS, Beck Depression Inventory; refer to the “PRIME Induces Improvement in Symptoms” section). These results are consistent with a prior study of PRIME alone (ie, no cognitive training) in 38 young people with schizophrenia [There was a significant group-by-time interaction in the MSQ Extrinsic Motivation subscale, with nonsignificant change in the TCT+PRIME group and a significant decrease in the CG+PRIME group from baseline to follow-up. This subscale measures feelings of pressure from friends or family to make improvements in one’s social life, academic or work life, and general health. The CG+PRIME group ratings indicated feeling less external pressure at the 6-month follow-up, whereas the TCT+PRIME group showed no significant change. It is possible that feelings of external pressure may not have changed in the TCT+PRIME group because of the demands of the cognitive training program. In our exit interview, the TCT+PRIME group rated the exercises as significantly more difficult than the CG+PRIME group. This is consistent with a recent study of BrainHQ exercises versus computer control games in survivors of breast cancer [