What Is Avolition—and Why Does It Happen?

Avolition is an inability to engage in goal-oriented behavior involving a lack of interest or motivation to complete tasks.  Avolition is not a condition on its own but rather a symptom often seen in depression and schizophrenia. In fact, it’s estimated that about 40% of people with schizophrenia display signs of avolition. If you are experiencing avolition, it’s important to see a mental health provider to find out what’s causing the avolition and receive proper treatment for your symptoms.

Symptoms of Avolition

Avolition involves a lack of motivation to reach your goals or engage in purposeful and meaningful activities. It can seriously affect many aspects of your life. Symptoms of avolition can sometimes differ based on the underlying cause of your condition—whether that's depression or schizophrenia.

Depression-Based Avolition

Common symptoms of avolition include:

• Showing no interest in engaging in self-improvement, whether that be physical, social, or financial betterment
• Experiencing trouble performing basic activities of everyday living, like personal hygiene, meal preparation, and everyday grooming
• Not feeling motivated to go to work or school
• Disengaging from social activities
• Staying home more often
• Zoning out or dissociating while watching TV or scrolling social media
• Having high levels of inactivity, both physically and intellectually

Avolition is often compared to a feeling of emptiness or numbness. Many people with avolition often have a diagnosis of major depression or bipolar disorder. But if you have avolition, you may not experience other symptoms of depression, such as extreme sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness. That's because avolition tends to be the most dominant symptom and erases other emotions you might be experiencing.

Schizophrenia-Based Avolition

Avolition is one of the core symptoms of schizophrenia and explains some of the severe dysfunction that can accompany schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia often experience other related symptoms, such as anhedonia, which describes a lack of interest and enjoyment in life.

Generally, avolition is considered one of the “negative symptoms” (deficits) in schizophrenia, as opposed to the “positive symptoms” (excess) such as hallucinations and delusions. Avolition in schizophrenia may cause the following symptoms:

• Trouble planning basic activities, like grocery shopping
• Having a lack of interest in activities that are typically enjoyable
• Displaying limited facial expressions and reactions
• Talking in a flat or dull voice
• Not wanting to engage in social interactions
• Experiencing low energy
• Showing signs of catatonia (not talking or moving)

What Causes Avolition?

Avolition doesn’t usually just happen on its own. Instead, it's caused by a mental health condition. The most common causes are depressive disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder. However, avolition is also a symptom that can occur as a result of schizophrenia. Experts believe that avolition in schizophrenia can occur due to changes in dopamine activity in the brain. However, in less common cases, avolition can occur in people who live with autism and personality disorders.

What to Expect When You Contact a Healthcare Provider

If you are experiencing avolition, seeing a healthcare provider can help you understand what's causing your feelings and find a treatment that helps you feel better. During your appointment, your provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. If they believe a mental health condition is causing your symptoms, they'll likely refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment.

Both schizophrenia and depression are diagnosed using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Sometimes, a test called The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) can help in the diagnostic process.

You may receive a diagnosis for depression if:

• You're experiencing common symptoms of depression
• Your symptoms are affecting your thoughts and feelings and impacting sleep and daily life
• These symptoms have lasted for longer than two weeks

Your provider may diagnose you with schizophrenia if:

• You’ve had symptoms of schizophrenia for at least six months, which may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, cationic behavior, avolition, and diminished emotional expression
• Your symptoms are making it hard for you to function in everyday life

Treatment

Treatments for avolition depend on the underlying cause. While depression and schizophrenia are both mental health conditions, their treatment options do vary.

Options for Treating Depression

The goal of treatment for depression is to make you feel more like yourself again and increase your ability to function in your daily life. Common treatment options for depression include:

• Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• Antidepressant medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Options for Treating Schizophrenia

The goal of treatment for schizophrenia centers on helping you increase your ability to function in daily life and make symptoms more manageable. Treatment can also help you achieve certain goals, such as those related to your education, career, and social life. Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves a combination of:

• Antipsychotic medications
• Psychosocial treatments that help people manage everyday life situations
• Psychotherapy, which may include cognitive-behavioral therapy
  

How to Prevent Avolition

The conditions that cause avolition can’t always be prevented, but they can be treated. Treatment can decrease the severity of your avolition symptoms, and can help avolition from recurring or increasing again.

Preventing Depression

There's not always a surefire way to prevent depression, especially if your brain chemistry is a factor. However, certain lifestyle habits can increase your mental strength and balance your emotional well-being. Consider the following strategies to optimize your mental health:

• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Keeping a consistent sleep schedule
• Eating nutritious foods
• Connecting with others and sharing your feelings
• Avoiding the use of alcohol, nicotine, or drugs

Preventing Schizophrenia

It’s not known if schizophrenia can be prevented, but once your symptoms have stabilized and you have a treatment plan in place, there are things you can do to keep symptoms at bay. The following tips may help prevent severe symptoms of schizophrenia:

• Stick diligently to your treatment plan, even if symptoms decrease during treatment
• Take your medications regularly and as prescribed
• Ask your loved ones for support and care when you need it
  
• Get enough sleep, exercise, and food daily
• Avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol
• Join a support group for people with schizophrenia
• Keep in touch with your healthcare team about any issues or concerns you have

A Quick Review

Avolition is often a symptom of a mental health condition such as depression or schizophrenia. If you have avolition, it's common to show symptoms like feeling numb, not having any interest in daily activities, and experiencing little to not drive to accomplish goals. Daily life activities like bathing, working, going to school, or eating can also be challenging. Avolition can significantly affect your emotional well-being, so seeing a healthcare provider for support is essential.