Training and development is central to the effective and efficient working of any staff group. Since apathy, anhedonia and avolition are frequent symptoms in schizophrenia and these motivational problems can compromise engagement in treatment, it is necessary to use the treatment approaches that facilitate motivation to adhere to treatment.

As part of the service developments within the Psychiatric Hospital No. 4 named after P. B. Gannushkin, a one-week long induction was provided to all staff joining the service.

This training programme was designed to equip the staff with the necessary knowledge and skill base for working with individuals deemed to meet the criteria of avolition\anergia that inhibit a patient's ability to engage in treatment.

The members of staff were each asked to complete a series of questionnaires both pre- and post-training, designed to assess their attitude and skills towards working with motivationally disordered schizophrenia patients.

This paper outlines the results of these measures and comments upon the impact of training on the inductee's attitudes towards motivationally disordered schizophrenia patients and the staff's perception of their skills for working with this patient group.

Dealing with those with schizophrenia is especially challenging because obstacles to motivation are characteristic of the illness. The implication of these findings for future induction training is discussed.