A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a flat affect, paranoid delusions, anhedonia, anergia, neologisms, and echolalia. Which statement correctly differentiates the client's positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors or thoughts that are present that should not be, such as hallucinations, delusions, neologisms (invented words), and echolalia (repeating words or phrases). Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors or thoughts that are absent that should be present, such as flat affect (lack of emotional expression), anhedonia (lack of enjoyment in activities), and anergia (lack of energy). Therefore, the correct answer is B as the three symptoms listed (paranoid delusions, neologisms, and echolalia) are positive symptoms, while the other four are negative symptoms.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Is Experiencing