Effects of an extrinsic motivator on the evaluation of cognitive and daily living functions in patients with schizophrenia.

We investigated the effect of an extrinsic motivator on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment (UPSA) scores, which assess cognitive and daily living functions, in patients with schizophrenia. We enrolled 60 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia and allocated them to the motivator or control group. We conducted baseline assessments of cognitive function using the MCCB, daily living function using the UPSA, clinical symptoms, and psychosocial characteristics in both groups. In the retrial, we initially evaluated clinical symptoms. Next, we assigned an extrinsic motivator to the motivator group and again assessed cognitive function and daily living function using the MCCB and UPSA. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and logistic regression analysis. We found significant time × group interactions in processing speed, verbal learning, visual learning, and composite scores of MCCB. There were no significant interactions in UPSA scores. The meaningful change rates of social cognition and composite scores in MCCB were significantly higher in the motivator group than in the control group. After adjusting for additional variables, the extrinsic motivator had a significant effect on the meaningful MCCB composite score change. Conclusively, our findings suggest beneficial effects of extrinsic motivator on the MCCB score in patients with schizophrenia. In the future, the implementation and interpretation of the MCCB considering the motivation is necessary.