Which are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

• A. Affective flattening, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, and social withdrawal.
• B. Delusions and hallucinations.
• C. Disorganized speech.
• D. Catatonia.

Answer: (A)

Negative symptoms are deficits in normal functioning that reflect diminished or blunted emotional and motivational processes. Affective flattening means showing little or no facial expression or emotional responsiveness. Alogia is a reduction in speech output or spontaneity. Avolition is a lack of motivation to initiate or sustain activities. Anhedonia is a reduced ability to experience pleasure. Social withdrawal is less engagement with others. Together, these reflect a diminishment of typical experiences and behaviors rather than the presence of new, abnormal experiences.

Delusions and hallucinations are positive symptoms, representing added experiences or distortions of reality. Disorganized speech is a thought-disorganization symptom, often categorized as a positive/mental process symptom. Catatonia involves motor and behavioral abnormalities and isn’t classified as a negative symptom.