Reduction of mental productivity and motivation in patients with schizophrenia is one of the core features of negative symptoms of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Lack of motivation affects social functioning and outcomes, reduces effects of psychosocial treatment and rehabilitation.

To research AES abilities in measuring motivation in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate correlations of Russian translation of clinician-rated and self-rated versions with PANSS amotivation subscale and negative subscale items.

Fifty patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were recruited to participate in the study and were assessed with PANSS, AES-C and AES-S by trained raters. Only patients in “stabilized” state that met inclusion criteria of PANSS total score ≤ 80 points were eligible for consecutive AES assessment.

Overall, moderate positive correlations were established between AES-C and PANSS amotivation subscale N2 and N4 items, N6 item and total PANSS negative subscale. No significant correlations with G16 item were registered. AES-C and AES-S versions also showed positive Spearman correlations (r = 0.43; P < 0.05), while no correlations between AES-S and amotivation PANSS items were registered.

Moderately strong correlations between AES-C and PANSS N2, N4 and N6 items show feasibility of AES-C version in terms of measuring motivation in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Results of AES-S analysis demonstrate certain problems in patients’ abilities in self-assessing motivation. Patients with prevailing paranoid syndrome showed poorer results in AES-S scores.

AES-C is a sensitive psychometric tool with good properties in measuring amotivation in patients with schizophrenia.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.