 Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia SCZ, the rate of disability among Veterans diagnosed with SCZ remains high. Functional disability among Veterans with SCZ creates a huge and costly burden on the national VA healthcare system, and interferes with community integration and quality of life. In particular, SCZ is associated with low rates of employment, few social relationships, and poor independent living skills. The negative symptoms of SCZ i.e. avolition, anhedonia, asociality are primary determinants of functional impairments, and they have no validated treatments. Extensive work has been devoted to treating positive symptoms and cognitive deficits, but much less has been done to develop pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for negative symptoms. Developing such interventions is a critical public health goal, as it would benefit one of the largest groups of disabled Veterans. 