Large, Highly Likely Rewards Can Increase Motivation in Individuals Who Have Recovered from Depression

New research published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging sheds light on decision-making and reward strategies and can help assess relapse vulnerability and promote sustained recovery and well-being.

New research shows that individuals who have recovered from depression are generally less willing to exert effort to pursue potential rewards compared to those who have never experienced depression, unless the rewards are large and highly likely. A new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier, provides deeper insights into subtle motivational deficits that persist in individuals who have recovered from depression, potentially explaining relapse vulnerability and guiding targeted treatment for sustained recovery and overall patient well-being.

Lead investigator Diego A. Pizzagalli, PhD, founding director of the Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries at UC Irvine and a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, says, ”Imagine an everyday scenario: deciding whether to meet a friend after work or simply stay home because going out feels too exhausting. Individuals with a history of depression might more often opt for the less effortful choice — staying home — missing out on rewarding experiences and social interactions. Over time, repeatedly choosing the low-effort path could unintentionally reinforce behaviors or thought patterns that increase the risk of falling back into depression."

Read the full press release on Elsevier.