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Why are They Called Positive & Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects brain function. It might result in chronic issues with disordered behaviors and thoughts. Therefore, people with the condition would need lifelong treatment and care. Schizophrenia can be characterized by cognitive, negative, and positive symptoms. Read on to learn more about their differences and how to diagnose precisely.

Positive Versus Negative Symptoms

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are those that most normal people do not have like exaggerated ideas or perceptions. Some common positive signs include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, as well as disorganized behavior.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are the absence of behaviors or things that are present in most healthy people. These might include social interests, emotional responses, or facial expressions. [1]