Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

What is schizophrenia?

A severe mental health illness where contact with reality and insight are impaired

What is meant by a positive symptom in terms of schizophrenia?

Additional experiences beyond ordinary existence

What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Hallucinations and delusions

What are hallucinations?

Unusual sensory experiences

What are the types of hallucinations?

Auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory

What are a few examples of hallucinations?

See faces that aren’t there, hear voices speaking to them, feeling bugs touching their skin

What are delusions?

Irrational beliefs

What are a few examples of delusions?

Believing that they are being followed, believing they are a historical figure

What is meant by a negative symptom in terms of schizophrenia?

Loss of usual abilities and experiences

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Avolition and speech poverty

What is avolition?

Struggling with beginning or keeping up with goal directed activities. Have reduced motivation to complete tasks

What are the three identifying signs of avolition?

Poor hygiene and grooming, lack of persistence in work or education, lack of energy

What is speech poverty?

Changes in patterns of speech

What are the effects of speech poverty?

Reduction in the amount and quality of speech. Sometimes, a delay in verbal response occurs

How does the DSM-5-TR approach to speech disturbances differ from traditional speech poverty?

There is more emphasis on disorganised speech, when the speaker changes topic mid sentence or incoherent. Labelled as a positive symptom