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Disturbances of motivational balance in chronic schizophrenia during decision‐making tasks
Author(s) -
Kim YangTae,
Sohn Hansem,
Kim Seungyeon,
Oh Jihoon,
Peterson Bradley S.,
Jeong Jaeseung
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2012.02403.x
Subject(s) - schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , balance (ability) , psychology , cognitive psychology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychotherapist , psychiatry , neuroscience , medicine
Aim The role of feedback processing in decision‐making has been assessed in psychiatric patients using the I owa G ambling T ask ( IGT ). Although impaired performance on the IGT has been documented extensively in schizophrenia patients, the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying the performance deficits have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the neuropsychological origins of impaired decision‐making in schizophrenia patients using various versions of the IGT . Methods Thirty chronic schizophrenia patients and 33 healthy subjects underwent computerized versions of the IGT , the V ariant G ambling T ask ( VGT ), and the S huffled G ambling T ask ( SGT ) to assess the contributions of motivational balance and reversal learning on IGT performance. In addition, performance on the W isconsin C ard‐ S orting T est ( WCST ) was assessed. Results The schizophrenia patients exhibited deficits on the IGT and SGT , particularly in later trials. No significant group difference was detected on the VGT due to the improved performance of schizophrenia patients in the earlier trials. Performance on the gambling tasks in the schizophrenia group did not correlate with performance on the WCST or with the severity of clinical symptoms. Conclusion Deficits in motivational balance, but not reversal learning, play a dominant role in the impaired decision‐making of patients with schizophrenia.