Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

With a prevalence rate of approximately 1%, schizophrenia affects a large proportion of Canadians and is associated with a tremendous burden for the individual, their family, and society at large. Estimates of the economic costs of schizophrenia in Canada suggest that total yearly costs associated with this illness are $6.85 billion, with 70% of this attributable to lost productivity. Negative symptoms - referring to decreases in motivation, interest, and emotional expression - are a critical determinant of this functional disability for individuals with schizophrenia, for which there are currently no effective psychopharmacological treatments. With increasing research suggesting the need for complementary psychotherapeutic interventions, this study aims to evaluate the specific psychological processes contributing to negative symptoms over time in order to uncover precise targets for these treatments. The results of this study are anticipated to provide the foundation for the development of personalized psychological interventions for negative symptoms in schizophrenia to address the critical area of unmet therapeutic need and promote recovery for these individuals.