M34. Metacognition is Necessary for the Emergence of Motivation in Schizophrenia: A Necessary Condition Analysis

Abstract

Background: Metacognition defcits-impairments in the ability to form complex representations about oneself, others, and the world-have been implicated as one potential cause of reduced motivation in people with schizophrenia. However, research has yet to identify whether certain levels of metacognition are necessary for motivation to emerge. Method(s): This study used a Necessary Condition Analysis (Dul et al., 2010) to test whether metacognition is necessary in order for motivation to be present and to identify the minimum level of metacognition needed in order to have high motivation in people with schizophrenia. Three hundred eighteen participants with schizophrenia completed clinician-rated measures of metacognition and motivation. Result(s): Analyses revealed that metacognition is a necessary condition for motivation and more specifcally, that high levels of motivation were only possible, although not guaranteed, when at least moderate levels of meta-cognition were present. Conclusion(s): These fndings suggest that metacognition is a necessary building block for the development of motivation; however, the presence of moderate or high metacognition does not necessarily guarantee that high motivation will emerge in people with schizophrenia. Implications include targeting metacognition, particularly among those with less than moderate metacognition, within interventions aiming to improve motivation defcits in schizophrenia.