Behavioural Activation in Early Psychosis: Investigating Relationships With Self-reported and Objective Cognition
Poster A90, Thursday, October 20, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Melissa Milanovic1, Maya Gupta1, Katherine Holshausen1, Michael W. Best1, Michael Grossman1, Christopher R. Bowie1; 1Queen's University
Behavioural activation (BA) is linked to goal-directed behaviour and completion of activities. Individuals with psychosis often demonstrate less BA, engaging in fewer interactions with others as well as lacking initiative and perseverance with respect to accomplishing daily tasks. The present analyses were conducted to investigate self-reported BA impairments in psychosis across four domains (overall activation, avoidance, work/school impairment and social impairment) and whether this is differentially associated with self-reported cognitive problems and objective measures of neurocognition. Data were collected from consecutively admitted patients (n = 35, Mage = 22.23, SDage = 4.48, 67.5% male) in an early psychosis intervention program through intake assessments consisting of neurocognitive measures of verbal and working memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed; as well as self-report measures of behavioural inhibition (Behavioural Activation in Depression Scale; BADS) and failures in perception, memory and cognition (Cognitive Failures Questionnaire; CFQ). Self-reported BA impairment was not significantly associated with a neurocognitive composite score (r = -.156, p > .05). In contrast, lower self-reported BA was inversely related to self-reported cognitive problems (r = -.427, p < .05). Higher CFQ ratings were also associated with greater behavioural avoidance (r = .498, p < .05) and work/school impairment (r = .376, p < .05) as measured by the BADS. Individuals with psychosis demonstrate impaired neurocognitive ability, but their self-reported cognitive difficulties are more closely aligned with their self-identified functional deficits. Similar to studies with chronically ill samples, objective cognition and self-reported functioning do not converge.
Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis