Health
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Avolition?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Avolition is a symptom of psychological or psychiatric distress characterized by a lack of motivation or drive. People with avolition have difficulty starting and completing tasks, and may be uninterested in the world around them. This symptom is often a part of schizophrenia, and can appear in people with bipolar disorder as well. Treatment depends on how severe it is, and what the cause is.

Many people have days where they have a tough time getting going, or don't feel like doing anything. For people with this condition, this is taken to an entirely new level. People may have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, let alone engaging in routine tasks like shopping, cooking, cleaning, childcare, and going to work. This persists for days, and can become what is termed a “negative symptom” because it has a negative impact on the life of the patient.

People with avolition have difficulty starting and completing tasks.
People with avolition have difficulty starting and completing tasks.

Other issues can accompany avolition. People with this symptom may also demonstrate alogia, a lack of speech. Alogia can be total, with the patient simply not talking, or it may take the form of making short, clipped responses to questions and attempts at conversation. This can complicate therapy, as the patient may not communicate clearly enough for the therapist to get a read on what the patient is experiencing.

People with avolition may have difficulty getting out of bed.
People with avolition may have difficulty getting out of bed.

Avolition can also be accompanied by anhedonia, in which people receive no pleasure from the tasks they engage in. This can also complicate treatment. A patient might be encouraged to do something pleasurable and discover that the task is not fun or fulfilling, thus becoming reluctant to try again. People with this symptom also tend to have a flat affect emotionally, which can be disconcerting and may also make treatment harder because the patient appears to lack emotion.

Therapy may be helpful for individuals suffering with avolition.
Therapy may be helpful for individuals suffering with avolition.

Avolition is not the same thing as disinterest, although the two can seem similar. Treatment generally relies on determining the cause and addressing it. For example, if a patient develops this condition after a medication change, it would suggest the change was not effective. Likewise, the emergence of this symptom after trauma would suggest that the patient needs therapy and treatment for the trauma. Sometimes, all a patient needs is time and support.

People suffering from avolition might also have a flat affect.
People suffering from avolition might also have a flat affect.

Family members and caregivers of people who experience avolition and other intense psychological and psychiatric symptoms sometimes find it helpful to attend workshops and classes geared at caregivers. These courses can provide information about what people are experiencing, and what caregivers can do to help. Caregivers can also directly ask their charges about things which might be beneficial or helpful.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon990530

It's a negative symptom. It is something you lose (volition) if you develop schizophrenia. Symptoms like hallucinations or delusions are something that is added to your life that's why these are called positive.

All symptoms are, however, burdensome on patients their lives.

Avolition is not only seen in those who suffer from schizophrenia but it is also seen in some people with clinical depression, other disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum (schizoid PD, schizotypal PD, schizophreniphorm and schizoaffective disorder) and in other disorders.

anon137031

Anon I don't like those pills (neuroleptics) but Abilify could be a good choice for those symptoms. Actually SSRIs are "giving" me those due to the indirect dopamine antagonist ical effect.

The real heavy artillery for those so-called negative symptoms would be Clozapine. Parnate could also hypothetically help. Modaphiline could as well be taken into consideration. Probably better because it supposedly not working with dopamine receptors directly. I think you have overstimulated them and they have been down regulating. Good luck.

anon115146

I have avolition and anhedonia (and probably other things).

Is there a cure?

I'm taking prozac, wellbutrin, ritalin, and coffee (way too much coffee). I've reached the point where 20 cups has no effect and I have to "decaf" and even then it doesn't have much effect.

anon103039

That's not why it's called a "negative symptom". It's a negative symptom because it's an absence of a normal condition (volition), as opposed to "positive symptoms", which are symptoms present that are not found in a neurotypical patient (such as hallucinations).

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • People with avolition have difficulty starting and completing tasks.
      By: arthurhidden
      People with avolition have difficulty starting and completing tasks.
    • People with avolition may have difficulty getting out of bed.
      By: Deyan Georgiev
      People with avolition may have difficulty getting out of bed.
    • Therapy may be helpful for individuals suffering with avolition.
      By: Monkey Business
      Therapy may be helpful for individuals suffering with avolition.
    • People suffering from avolition might also have a flat affect.
      By: Forgiss
      People suffering from avolition might also have a flat affect.
    • Avolition is often a part of schizophrenia.
      By: sebra
      Avolition is often a part of schizophrenia.