Understanding why people lose pleasure from social interactions after a first psychotic episode
Determining the role of social reward learning in social anhedonia in first-episode psychosis using motivational interviewing as a probe in a perturbation-based neuroimaging approach
This project uses brain scans and motivational interviewing to look at how people within two years of their first psychotic episode learn and respond to social rewards.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11234304 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you’ve had a first psychotic episode and find less enjoyment in social life, this research invites you to take part. Participants at two sites will complete two different social reward tasks while having functional MRI scans, and will also take part in motivational interviewing as a probe to change social cues. The team will use a perturbation-based neuroimaging approach (briefly altering social signals during tasks) to see how the brain’s reward systems respond. The findings aim to connect specific brain patterns with social anhedonia to guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People within two years of their first psychotic episode who report reduced interest in or enjoyment of social interactions are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a history of psychosis, those whose psychotic episode was more than two years ago, or anyone with contraindications to MRI (for example, certain metal implants) are unlikely to be eligible or benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to brain-based targets for new treatments to help people regain pleasure and interest in social relationships.
How similar studies have performed: Previous neuroscience work links social reward problems to psychosis, but using motivational interviewing as a perturbation during fMRI is a relatively new and untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Junghee — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lee, Junghee
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 below.