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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Schizophr Res. 2017 Jun 17;192:6–8. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.06.010

Table 1.

Experimental Therapeutics Framework for Behavioral Interventions

Study Domain of
Interest		 Proposed
Mechanism		 Target
(proximal
outcome
based on
hypothesized
mechanism of
action) 		Selective
Intervention
(to
engage the
target) 		Evidence
of Target
Engagement		 Distal
Outcomes
(linking
target
engagement to
clinical
outcomes)
Granholm et al., 2009 Independent living skills in schizophrenia Social disinterest leads to poor community functioning Social disinterest attitudes Cognitive behavioral social skills training (CBSST) CBSST led to reduced social disinterest attitudes Reduced social disinterest associated with improved independent living skills
Medalia and Choi, 2010 Engagement in cognitive training in schizophrenia spectrum disorders Diminished motivation leads to decreased engagement with challenging tasks Intrinsic motivation CR plus motivational paradigm vs. CR only CR + motivation increased intrinsic motivation compared to CR only Increased intrinsic motivation associated with greater cognitive gains during CR
Freeman et al., 2015 Persecutory delusions in psychosis Worry thoughts increase persecutory delusions Worry thoughts CBT CBT targeting worry thoughts led to decreased worry Decreased worry associated with reductions in persecutory delusions
Schlosser et al., 2016 Functional outcomes and quality of life in early course schizophrenia Reward and motivation impairments associated with poor outcomes in early psychosis Reward processing and motivation Mobile interface targeting motivational and reward deficits Use of mobile device associated with increased motivation and improved reward processing* Changes in motivation and reward processing lead to improved community functioning and reported quality of life*
Zilverstand et al., 2016 Craving in Addiction Inhibitory control is associated with affect regulation and craving Inhibitory control network CBT or MI CBT and MI increase recruitment of inhibitory control network Recruitment of inhibitory control network associated with both affect regulation and control of craving
Stange et al., 2017 Mood and anxiety symptoms in social anxiety or depression Enhanced attention to aversive stimuli increases mood and anxiety symptoms ERP-measured index of attention to aversive images CBT CBT associated with changes in ERP-measured attention to aversive images ERP measured attention to aversive images associated with reductions in depression and anxiety

CR: cognitive remediation; TAU: treatment as usual; CBT: cognitive behavioral therapy; MI: motivational interviewing; ERP: event related potential

*

Please Note: evidence of target engagement and distal outcomes presented for this study are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only; actual findings have not yet been reported.