Environmental Reward Observation Scale Research Articles

The mediating effect of environmental reward on activity restriction and depressive mood in cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Activity restriction is known as a predictor of depressive mood in cancer survivors. However, there is inconsistent evidence about precisely how this takes place. Environmental reward is a state where a person senses mastery or pleasure because of their activity, and this is known to be a possible mediator of the activity restriction effect on depressive mood. We sought to investigate that the mediating effect environmental reward could have on the relationship between activity restriction and depressive mood when moderated by cancer-related fatigue. Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 94; mean age, 60.07 years) recruited through cancer support groups in Japan participated in this study. They completed a battery of questionnaires, including demographic and clinical information about the respondents, the Activity Restriction Scale for Cancer Patients—Revised, the Environmental Reward Observation Scale, the Cancer Fatigue Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Moderated mediation analysis revealed that high levels of activity restriction predict a decrease in environmental reward, and a decrease in environmental reward exacerbates depressive mood. The full mediating effect (when the indirect effect is statistically significant and there is no direct effect from the antecedent to outcome) of environmental reward was observed when cancer-related fatigue was moderated by ±1 SD of the mean score. This implies that, regardless of the level of fatigue cancer survivors experience, it is not the activity restriction per se that predicts depressive mood but rather the inability to experience pleasurable emotions because of the activity restriction that leads to the exacerbation of depressive mood. Conclusion: From these results, environmental reward was found to be a possible mediator of activity restriction on depressive mood, consistent with behavioral models of depression. These results could explain the inconsistent findings about the direct effect of activity restriction on depressive mood and provide theoretical evidence for the effectiveness of psychological treatments for cancer survivors that focus on positive affect, such as behavioral activation interventions.

Psychometric properties of the Reward Probability Index in a Colombian sample

Introduction: This study analysed the psychometric properties of the Reward Probability Index (RPI) in an online Colombian sample with 1129 participants. Method: To conduct a cross-validation study, the sample was randomly divided into two subsamples. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the first subsample yielding a two-factor structure. Then,the fit of this two-factor model was tested on the second subsample by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis. Results: This model obtained a good fit to the data and measurement invariance across gender was observed. The RPI also showed good internal consistency according to both Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega, scoring .88 in both cases. The RPI demonstrated convergent construct validity given its correlations with other related measures such as the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (r = .81), and the full version of the BehavioralActivation Scale for Depression (r = .71). Conclusions: The RPI showed good psychometric properties in this Colombian sample.

Functioning of the EROS-R Scale in a Clinical Sample of Psychiatric Patients: New Psychometric Evidence from the Classical Test Theory and the Item Response Theory.

Reliable and valid assessment instruments that can be applied briefly and easily in clinical and outpatient settings that provide information about the sources of reinforcement that the patient finds in his life are especially relevant in therapy. The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS-R) in a sample of psychiatric patients. A sample of 228 psychiatric patients of both sexes (56.1% men and 43.9% women) aged between 18 and 70 years was selected. Along with the EROS-R, other instruments were administered to assess depression and anxiety. The results show that the scale fits a unidimensional model, presenting adequate fit indices (RMSEA = 0.077 (IC 90% 0.055–0.100); SRMR = 0.048; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98). It was also shown that the degree of reward provided by the environment (EROS-R) correlates negatively with the level of depression (ρ = −0.54; p < 0.01) and anxiety (ρ = −0.34; p < 0.01). From the IRT perspective, all the items present adequate discrimination indices, where item 4 is the most precise indicator to measure the degree of environmental reward. All this leads us to conclude that the EROS-R is an instrument with robust psychometric guarantees from TCT and IRT’s perspectives, making it suitable for use in clinical contexts.

A-111 Ecological Momentary Assessment of Mood after Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Objective In persons with moderate–severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI), we compared traditional measures of mood with dynamic measures of affect derived from ecological momentary assessment (EMA), for the purpose of validating the EMA indices and exploring their unique contributions to emotional assessment. Method 23 community-dwelling participants with chronic msTBI were enrolled in a treatment trial for anxiety and/ or depression. At baseline, participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 Depression and Anxiety subscales (BSI-D, BSI-A) and the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS), a measure of everyday pleasure and reward. EMA data, including the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), were collected via smartphone 5 times daily for 7–14 days prior to treatment (M = 8.65; SD = 1.87). Spearman correlations tested associations between baseline BSI-D, BSI-A, and EROS scores with both overall means and temporal variability measures for positive and negative affect (PA, NA). Results Mean PA was significantly correlated with BSI-D (rho −0.60, p &amp;lt; 0.05) and EROS (rho 0.72, p &amp;lt; 0.01). Mean NA and affect variability measures were uncorrelated with baseline scores. NA mean and variability were intercorrelated (rho 0.87, p &amp;lt; 0.001), but this was not the case for PA. Conclusion EMA measures of averaged positive affect showed robust relationships with retrospective measures of depression and environmental reward, providing support for the validity of EMA measures of PA, and for use of the EROS in msTBI. While negative findings must be interpreted with caution, the lack of association of affective variability with retrospective measures suggest a unique role for EMA in examining temporal dynamics of affect.

Psychometric Properties of the Environmental Reward Observation Scale: Study on Its Internal Structure, Factor Invariance, and Method Effect Associated With Its Negative Items

The aim of this study was to assess the factorial structure of the scale, the method's effect associated with its negative items, its temporal invariance, and factorial invariance according to sex. For this purpose, three samples were collected, an initial sample of 200 participants, a second sample of 461 participants and a third sample of 107 participants; making a total of 768 Peruvian university students. Other instruments were applied together with the EROS scale in order to measure satisfaction with life, anxiety, stress and depression. Regarding the results, in the initial sample it was found that the original scale containing positive and negative items does adequately fit the data (RMSEA = .19; CFI = .77; TLI = .71) and also evidence was found supporting the existence of a methodological effect associated with the negative items. It was also found that version B of the scale which only has positive items data fits the data (RMSEA = .13; CFI = .96; TLI = .95). In the second sample it was found that version B still had a good fit to the data in a larger sample (RMSEA = .07; CFI = .98; TLI = .98). In addition, it was found that the scale can be considered invariant according to sex and presents validity based on other constructs. In the third sample it was found that the test-retest reliability of the scale was adequate (.70 [CI95% .593-.788]) and also evidence was found in favor of the temporal invariance of the scale. It is concluded that the scale formed only by positive items presents more robust psychometric properties and constitutes a better alternative to measure the level of reward provided by the environment.

Behavioral Activation Augmented With Mobile Technology for Depression and Anxiety in Chronic Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTo describe and provide the rationale for a randomized controlled trial for depression or anxiety after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), which will test 2 treatments based on behavioral activation (BA), a promising model to promote both positive mood and increased activity in this population. DesignRandomized controlled trial with masked outcome assessment. SettingOutpatient catchment area of 1 TBI treatment center. ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling persons (N=60) with moderate-severe TBI at least 6 months prior to enrollment and greater than mild depression or anxiety. InterventionsParticipants will be randomized 2:1 into an 8-session treatment, behavioral activation with technology, consisting of 6 face-to-face sessions and 2 via phone, with mood and activity monitoring conducted via ecological momentary assessment on a smartphone; or a single session incorporating BA principles followed by 8 weeks of activity reminders in the form of implementation intentions, delivered as text messages. Main Outcome MeasuresBrief Symptom Inventory-18 (primary outcome); Environmental Reward Observation Scale, Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale, Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective, Diener Satisfaction With Life Scale, Quality of Life after Brain Injury scale, Patient Global Impression of Change. Outcomes are measured midway through intervention, after treatment cessation (primary outcome), and at 2-month follow-up. A treatment enactment interview is administered after the follow-up to ascertain to what extent participants continue to engage in activities and use strategies promoted during trial participation. ResultsN/A. ConclusionsN/A.

Mediating effect of environmental rewards on the relation between goal-directed behaviour and anhedonia

Depression can be explained by certain behavioural patterns, especially low levels of environmental rewards; it is generally accompanied by infrequent goal-directed behaviour, increased depressed mood, and anhedonia. However, no research has statistically examined the mediating effect of environmental rewards on the relation between goal-directed behaviour and the symptoms of depressed mood or anhedonia. This study sought to determine whether such a mediating effect of environmental rewards is present in cross-sectional study. The participants included 101 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorders. Data were collected through three questionnaires measuring depression and behavioural patterns that maintain depression: the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS), and the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale—Short Form (BADS-SF). Mediation analysis was conducted using depressed mood and anhedonia as dependent variables, environmental rewards as the mediating variable, and goal-directed behaviour as the independent variable. Environmental rewards significantly mediated the relationship between goal-directed behaviour and anhedonia but not that between goal-directed behaviour and depressed mood. No significant relationships were found among depressed mood, goal-directed behaviour and environmental rewards. From these results, we conclude that low levels of environmental rewards accompanied by infrequent goal-directed behaviour can lead to increased anhedonia but not depressed mood.

Activation vs. Experiential Avoidance as a Transdiagnostic Condition of Emotional Distress: An Empirical Study.

Background: From a contextual transdiagnostic approach, this study focuses on the importance of the processes of Experiential Avoidance and Activation in explaining and treating psychological problems. There exists widespread empirical evidence to suggest that the response pattern known as Experiential Avoidance, a general unwillingness to remain in contact with particular private experiences through the use of maladaptive avoidance strategies, acts as a functional dimension in various psychological problems. Activation, that is, maintaining contact with experiences/conditions of life and consequently with associated sources of reward, is a condition present in most therapeutic processes. Although a great deal of research has analyzed the relationship of the value of reward with the etiology and maintenance of psychological problems, Activation, as a transdiagnostic factor, has been studied less. The aim of this paper is to carry out an empirical study of the relationship between Activation, EA and emotional state and analyze the capacity of these two conditions to discriminate the intensity and symptomatology type in subjects with emotional distress.Methods: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) and Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) were completed by 240 health center users.Results: Of the participants, 55% showed clinically relevant emotional distress. All cases of depression showed clinical anxiety. To discriminate between subjects without (n = 109) and with emotional distress (n = 131), analyses of the ROC curves and logistic regression analysis identified the BADS-Avoidance/Rumination followed by the EROS. To discriminate between subjects with anxiety but without depression (n = 61) and with anxiety and depression (n = 70), the most efficient scales were EROS followed by BADS-Social Impairment.Conclusion: It was shown that people with no emotional complaints maintained greater contact with life experiences and with environmental sources of reward than those with emotional distress. Response patterns showing Experiential Avoidance and a reduction in Activation responses were associated with clinical distress. A reduction in Activation was the condition which distinguished those people with the greatest distress and also the greatest comorbidity of symptoms of depression and anxiety. These data support the transdiagnostic nature of Activation and suggest greater attention should be paid to this concept.

東日本大震災被災生徒の抑うつと生活支障度の関連

The purpose of the present study was to examine depression and social disability among Japanese high school students who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake and tested if cognitive behavioral factors were related to depression and social disability. Two hundred and five students (160 female, M age = 16.2 years, SD = 0.4) who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake were administered the Impact of Event Scale–Revised, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Sheehan Disability Scale, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire–Revised, Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale, and Environmental Reward Observation Scale(EROS). More participants had depression than post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) symptoms. Partial correlation analysis found that depression was positively correlated with social disability. Multiple regression analysis found that, regarding cognitive factors, “negative evaluation of the future” was positively correlated with depression and social disability, whereas “positive thinking” was negatively correlated with depression. Regarding behavioral factors, “avoidance/rumination” and “social impairment” were positively correlated with depression, “school impairment” was positively correlated with social disability, whereas EROS was negatively correlated with depression and social disability. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce depression are necessary after natural disasters. Specifically, interventions should target cognitive behavioral factors to reduce depression and improvement of social disability.

Validación de la Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) en población Colombiana

Se estimaron las propiedades psicométricas de la Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) en población colombiana, con dos muestras: población comunitaria y clínica. Para la primera se evaluaron 507 personas en 22 departamentos del país con edades entre los 18 y los 72 años, 60,5% son mujeres y restante hombres, la segunda muestra estuvo compuesta por 68 personas con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 72 años que se atendidas en el momento de la evaluación por profesionales en salud mental. Se realizó la aplicación de los instrumentos (Enviromental Reward Observation Scale Y Escala Auto Aplicada De Depresión De Zung) por medio de redes sociales y correos electrónicos, con el fin de tener una muestra más amplia y una mayor variabilidad de la misma. Se encontraron apropiados niveles de consistencia interna (alfa de 0,87) e importantes evidencias de validez de constructo (agrupación en un factor que explica el 46,82% de la varianza total) y discriminante (r=-0,67).

Relationships Among Valued Action, Behavioral Activation, Avoidance, and Reinforcement in a Sample of College Students.

Behavioral activation is a validated intervention for depression, which helps depressed people re-engage overt behaviors to facilitate contactswith reinforcing environmental contingencies and subsequent reductions in depression. Moreover, behavioral activation deals with values that are based on acceptance and commitment therapy. However, there is no empirical study that examines the role of behavior in line with values in behavioral activation. This study examined the role of behavior in line with values in behavioral activation by examining the association between behavior in line with values and variables of behavioral activation intervention targets, as well as the mediating effect of behavioral commitment. Japanese versions of the Personal Values Questionnaire II, the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale, the Environmental Reward Observation Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression were completed by 292 Japanese undergraduate students ( M age = 19.2 yr., SD = 1.7; 65 men, 226 women, 1 unknown). Results indicated that behavior in line with values was associated with focused, goal-directed activation and completion of scheduled activities, which were mediated by behavioral commitment to values.

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the French Versions of the Environmental Reward Observation Scale and of the Reward Probability Index.

Background: Low levels of environmental rewards have been related to depression on a number of occasions in the scientific literature. Two scales have been created to assess environmental rewards: the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) and the Reward Probability Index (RPI). This study aims to validate the French versions of these two scales. Method: 466 non-clinical adults completed an online survey assessing environmental rewards, depression, anxiety, activation, avoidance and behavioural systems. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the factorial structures of the French EROS and RPI. Results: A one-factor solution for the EROS and a two-factor solution for the RPI best fitted the data. High levels of internal consistency were found for both the EROS and the RPI. Convergent validity was also examined, revealing that high environmental rewards appear to be related to activation and behavioural activation system. Conclusion: The French versions of the EROS and the RPI appear to be reliable assessments of environmental rewards.

日本語版 Environmental Reward Observation Scale(EROS)の作成と信頼性・妥当性の検討(資料)

日本語版 Environmental Reward Observation Scale(EROS)の作成と信頼性・妥当性の検討(資料)

Effectiveness of a Brief Behavioral Treatment for Inner-City Illicit Drug Users With Elevated Depressive Symptoms

Depression is highly prevalent among illicit drug users, and this co-occurrence is associated with poorer treatment outcomes. However, there has been limited empirical attention toward developing and assessing behavioral interventions for depression among illicit drug users. The objective of the current study was to test the efficacy of integrating a brief behavioral intervention for depression into standard inpatient substance abuse treatment. Forty-four adult illicit drug users with mild to moderate depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II [BDI-II] score >or= 10) who were receiving inpatient substance abuse treatment were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU) alone or TAU plus brief behavioral therapy for depression (i.e., Life Enhancement Treatment for Substance Use [LETS Act!]). Patients were assessed at baseline for DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses, depressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, BDI-II), anxiety symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory), and enjoyment and reward value of activities (Environmental Reward Observation Scale). Patients were again assessed at posttreatment and at 2-week follow-up. Treatment satisfaction and attrition rates also were assessed at posttreatment. Data were collected from November 2005 to March 2006. Patients who received the LETS Act! intervention (N = 22) evidenced significantly greater improvements than the TAU group (N = 22) in severity of depression, anxiety symptoms, and enjoyment and reward value of activities at posttreatment and in depressive symptoms at 2-week follow-up. The LETS Act! group also reported significantly higher treatment satisfaction ratings. This study supports the efficacy of LETS Act! in treating depressive symptoms and improving the enjoyment and reward value of activities among illicit drug users currently receiving inpatient substance use treatment. Data also indicate the intervention may help prevent treatment attrition. LETS Act! appears to be a feasible and parsimonious intervention to improve the treatment of depression and overall quality of care within inpatient substance abuse treatment settings.

The Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS): Development, Validity, and Reliability

Researchers acknowledge a strong association between the frequency and duration of environmental reward and affective mood states, particularly in relation to the etiology, assessment, and treatment of depression. Given behavioral theories that outline environmental reward as a strong mediator of affect and the unavailability of an efficient, reliable, and valid self-report measure of environmental reward, we developed the Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) and examined its psychometric properties. In Experiment 1, exploratory factor analysis supported a unidimensional 10-item measure with strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability. When administered to a replication sample, confirmatory factor analysis suggested an excellent fit to the 1-factor model and convergent/discriminant validity data supported the construct validity of the EROS. In Experiment 2, further support for the convergent validity of the EROS was obtained via moderate correlations with the Pleasant Events Schedule (PES; MacPhillamy & Lewinsohn, 1976). In Experiment 3, hierarchical regression supported the ecological validity of the EROS toward predicting daily diary reports of time spent in highly rewarding behaviors and activities. Above and beyond variance accounted for by depressive symptoms (BDI), the EROS was associated with significant incremental variance in accounting for time spent in both low and high reward behaviors. The EROS may represent a brief, reliable and valid measure of environmental reward that may improve the psychological assessment of negative mood states such as clinical depression.