Motivational deficits are known to be a crucial feature of schizophrenia. Several studies have supported the importance of motivation, as it was linked to poorer neurocognitive performance, functioning, and outcomes in schizophrenia patients. Self-determination theory has provided an important explanatory framework for understanding why individuals pursue specific goals and behaviors. SDT has been used as a basis for understanding motivation deficits in schizophrenia, being the two types of motivation: extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. The results highlighted that schizophrenia patients pay more attention to extrinsically rewarding experiences. Intrinsic motivation is the motivation to do something solely for the pleasure or satisfaction one obtains from performing the action. It is activated when there is the presence of the senses of meaning, competence, progress and choice of action undertaken or to be undertaken. IM can only occur for intrinsically interesting activities. Schizophrenia patients have motivational disorders, often the criterion for intrinsic motivation is not met due to reduced processing of motivational meaning; most tasks will not be intrinsically motivating. Only stronger than normal environmental cues are needed for people with schizophrenia to help them understand the importance of motivation and perform the desired behavior. Therefore, interventions based on extrinsic motivation have demonstrated their effectiveness. Perceived competence, i.e. motivated behavior towards knowledge, skill or learning, is a central component of IM and a powerful predictor of high levels of motivation in education...... middle of the article......reduce treatment dropouts and medication non-compliance. Works Cited Silverstein, SM (2010). Bridging the gap between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in the cognitive remediation of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin,36(5), 949-956.Gard, DE, Fisher, M., Garrett, C., Genevsky, A. and Vinogradov, S. (2009). Motivation and its relationship to neurocognition, social cognition, and functional outcomes in schizophrenia.Schizophrenia Research, 115(1), 74-81.Gard, DE, Sanchez, AH, Starr, J., Cooper, S., Fisher, M., Rowlands, A. and Vinogradov, S. (2014). Using self-determination theory to understand motivation deficits in schizophrenia: the “why” of motivated behavior. Schizophrenia research. Deci, EL and Ryan, RM (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuit: Human needs and self-determination of behavior. Psychological investigation,11(4), 227-268.