Which of the following is a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

• A. Hallucinations
• B. Flat affect
• C. Anhedonia
• D. Disorganized thought

Answer: (A)

Distinguishing positive symptoms from negative symptoms in schizophrenia helps you recognize what adds to the person’s experience versus what reduces it. Hallucinations are perceptual experiences—like hearing voices—without any external stimulus, so they are a clear example of a positive symptom because they are something extra that the person experiences. The other options reflect negative or reduced functioning: flat affect is a diminished emotional expression, and anhedonia is a reduced ability to experience pleasure. Disorganized thought can be part of the positive symptom spectrum as well, but the hallmark, most prototypical positive symptom presented here, is the hallucinatory experience.