Positive symptoms manifest as:

• A. Fixed false beliefs, perceptual experiences without external stimuli, disorganized speech, and abnormal behavior.
• B. Memory loss and attention deficits.
• C. Sleep disturbance and appetite changes.
• D. Mood fluctuations.

Answer: (A)

Positive symptoms are experiences that add something to a person’s mental life that isn’t actually happening in reality. In schizophrenia, these include delusions (fixed, false beliefs that persist despite contrary evidence), hallucinations (perceiving things without external stimuli), disorganized thinking and speech (rambling or illogical connections), and disorganized or abnormal behavior (unpredictable or inappropriate actions). The described items match these features precisely, illustrating beliefs and perceptions that are added to normal experience. The other options reflect changes in functioning or mood rather than added psychotic experiences—memory loss and attention deficits point to cognitive impairment, sleep and appetite changes are non-specific symptoms, and mood fluctuations describe affective symptoms.