Pilot Study of Behavioral Activation Treatment for Negative Symptoms in Older Adults With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

Objective: Behavioral activation (BA) is an established treatment for depression in older adults, yet BA has been relatively less examined as a treatment for the negative symptoms (NS) of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). We here aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and proof-of-concept that BA can improve NS and function in older adults with SSD. We also evaluated if changes in putative targets correlate with health improvements. Methods: and 95% confidence intervals. Results: = 0.04). Conclusions: High engagement and health improvements support the use of BA for NS in older patients with SSD. Relevance to Clinical Practice: In older adults, BA may reduce NS and improve function, but precision medicine trials are needed to determine how and for whom.