Understanding and improving motivation and pleasure in mood and psychotic disorders
Official title: Negative Symptoms, Cognition, and Functional Connectivity: Optimizing Transdiagnostic Relationships by Leveraging Advanced Techniques
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11165377 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mood and psychotic disorders can make people feel less motivated and less pleasure in everyday life, and it’s designed for those who experience these symptoms to help find better ways to support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MH140567-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11165377 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with mood disorders or psychotic disorders who experience negative symptoms related to motivation and pleasure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have mood disorders or psychotic disorders, or those without significant negative symptoms, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the negative symptoms of reduced motivation and pleasure in individuals with mood disorders and psychotic disorders. It aims to better understand the cognitive and neural bases of these symptoms by using advanced techniques such as ecological momentary assessment and mobile cognitive testing. By capturing the variability in symptoms and their presentation, the study seeks to inform more effective clinical interventions tailored to individual needs. Participants may engage in assessments that utilize naturalistic stimuli and functional connectivity analysis to explore their experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for individuals experiencing debilitating symptoms of reduced motivation and pleasure.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using advanced assessment techniques to understand and treat similar symptoms, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dalloul, Nada Assaad — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Dalloul, Nada Assaad
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.