The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into:
Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Positive Symptoms
Positive symptoms are highly exaggerated ideas, perceptions, or actions that show the person can’t tell what’s real from what isn’t. Here the word “positive” means the presence (rather than absence) of symptoms. They can include:
Hallucinations
Hearing, seeing or feeling something that is not there in reality. Hallucinations can occur with any of the five senses, sound, sight, touch, taste, and smell.
Hearing voices(auditory hallucination) is the most common hallucination in schizophrenia
Delusions
Strongly held irrational and false beliefs due to an inability to segregate real from unreal experiences
Common delusions are:-
Persecutory delusions, referential delusions, somatic delusions, erotomanic delusions, religious delusions, grandiose delusions, etc.
Disorganized thinking
Making loose associations. Drawing conclusions that are not based on reality. Lack of logical reasoning
Agitation
An unpleasant state of increased tension and irritability
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms are thoughts, feelings, or behaviors normally present that are absent or diminished in a person with a mental disorder.
Lack of drive or initiative
Spending a lot of time in bed with no motivation to do anything
Social withdrawal/depression
Giving the impression that the affected person prefers to be alone and does not want to see other people
Apathy
Experience feelings of emptiness. Unable to follow through on plans
Lack of emotional response
Lacking normal signs of emotion not feeling either happy or sad eg:- Reduced facial expression
Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Questions and Answers
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