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Schizophrenia illness severity is associated with reduced loss aversion
James Currie1, Dheeraj Buruju2, Jennifer S Perrin2
1University of Aberdeen, Division of Applied Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH, UK; NHS Grampian, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH, UK.
Brain Research
|March 15, 2017
Summary
Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit reduced loss aversion, a tendency where losses feel worse than equivalent gains. This diminished loss aversion is linked to schizophrenia illness severity, with less severe cases showing more typical responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroeconomics
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Loss aversion, the disproportionate impact of losses over gains, is a well-established cognitive bias.
- Previous studies suggest altered loss aversion in schizophrenia, but its relationship with illness severity remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate loss aversion in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To examine the correlation between loss aversion and schizophrenia illness severity.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 20 schizophrenia patients and 16 matched controls participated.
- Participants engaged in two versions of the Iterated Prisoners' Dilemma game: one with positive payoffs and one with potential negative payoffs.
- Probit regression analyses were employed to assess the significance of findings, controlling for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Control participants displayed significant loss aversion, reducing cooperation under negative payoffs.
- Schizophrenia patients, on average, did not exhibit a loss aversion response.
- A negative correlation was observed between the degree of loss aversion and schizophrenia illness severity.
Conclusions:
- Reduced loss aversion is a characteristic cognitive feature in schizophrenia.
- The degree of loss aversion in schizophrenia is associated with illness severity, with milder cases showing more pronounced loss aversion.
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