Which symptom category includes hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia?

Which symptom category includes hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia?

• A. Positive symptoms
• B. Negative symptoms
• C. Cognitive symptoms
• D. Affective symptoms

Answer: (A)

Hallucinations and delusions are examples of positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Positive symptoms refer to the presence of experiences or behaviors that go beyond normal functioning—things that are added to the person’s experience. Hallucinations are sensory experiences, such as hearing voices, without any external stimulus. Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that aren’t shared by others and remain despite contrary evidence. In contrast, negative symptoms involve things that are missing or diminished, like reduced motivation or flat affect; cognitive symptoms involve problems with memory and thinking processes; and affective symptoms pertain to mood disturbances. Because hallucinations and delusions add abnormal experiences rather than reflect a deficit or a mood state, they fit best with the positive symptom category.

Hallucinations and delusions are examples of positive symptoms in schizophrenia. Positive symptoms refer to the presence of experiences or behaviors that go beyond normal functioning—things that are added to the person’s experience. Hallucinations are sensory experiences, such as hearing voices, without any external stimulus. Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that aren’t shared by others and remain despite contrary evidence. In contrast, negative symptoms involve things that are missing or diminished, like reduced motivation or flat affect; cognitive symptoms involve problems with memory and thinking processes; and affective symptoms pertain to mood disturbances. Because hallucinations and delusions add abnormal experiences rather than reflect a deficit or a mood state, they fit best with the positive symptom category.