Motivation Impairment:
« Back to Glossary IndexMotivation impairment is difficulty in initiating and sustaining goal-directed behaviors, often stemming from underlying psychological disorders (depression, schizophrenia), neurological conditions (traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, ADHD), substance abuse, stress, and burnout. In ADHD, conflict processing arises when the source of the conflict prevents us from reaching our goals or derails our course of action. Motivation impairment encompasses:
- Apathy in making an effort, lacking interest or concern, often leading to inactivity.
- Anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) lowers capacity for anticipation, learning, and effort.
- Reduced effort in working toward goals, giving up.
- Impaired reward processing in anticipating or experiencing rewards.
- Difficulty with decision-making in choosing between different options or initiating actions.
