Prodromal or residual symptoms are best described as:

• A. Mood symptoms must be dominant.
• B. Subthreshold symptoms precede full onset.
• C. Active psychosis is never present.
• D. No prodromal symptoms occur.

Answer: (B)

Subthreshold signs that are not enough to meet full criteria for psychosis describe prodromal and residual phases. In the prodromal period, people show subtle changes in thinking, perception, mood, or functioning that precede a full psychotic episode. In the residual phase, after an acute episode is resolved, symptoms persist but remain mild and below the level of active psychosis. Because these phases involve signs that are milder than full psychosis, the best description is that subthreshold symptoms precede full onset. The other statements either overstate what must dominate (mood symptoms), rely on an absolute claim about active psychosis, or deny the existence of prodromal signs, which isn’t accurate.