A 22-year-old man with a first episode of schizophrenia is started on a second-generation antipsychotic. After three weeks his auditory hallucinations diminish substantially, but he remains socially withdrawn, unmotivated, and emotionally flat. His family asks why these symptoms persist.
Social withdrawal, avolition, and flat affect are best classified as:
- Acheck_circle
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
- B
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia
- C
Disorganized symptoms of schizophrenia
- D
Cognitive side effects of antipsychotics
Explanation
Negative symptoms describe the absence or reduction of normal functions: motivation, social engagement, emotional expression. Positive symptoms involve added experiences (hallucinations, delusions); disorganized symptoms involve thought-form disturbances; medication side effects are a separate category.