Which statement best describes positive versus negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

• A. Positive symptoms include flat affect; negative symptoms include hallucinations.
• B. Negative symptoms precede positive symptoms.
• C. Positive symptoms are added experiences like delusions and hallucinations; negative symptoms are diminished abilities such as flat affect and avolition.
• D. Positive symptoms and negative symptoms are the same.

Answer: (C)

Positive symptoms are additions to normal experience, such as delusions and hallucinations, while negative symptoms are reductions or losses in normal function, like flat affect and avolition. This distinction best describes why some people with schizophrenia experience extra, disruptive experiences (positive) and also struggle with diminished emotional expression and motivation (negative). The other statements mix up the categories or make incorrect generalizations: flat affect is a negative symptom, not positive; hallucinations are positive symptoms, not negative; and it's not an absolute rule that negative symptoms always come first—they can appear in the prodromal phase but are not universally preceding positive symptoms.