Which of the following correctly pairs schizophrenia symptom domains with examples?

• A. Positive: flat affect, alogia, avolition; Negative: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech.
• B. Positive: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech; Negative: flat affect, alogia, avolition, social withdrawal.
• C. Positive: anxiety and panic attacks; Negative: memory loss.
• D. Positive: improved concentration; Negative: increased energy.

Answer: (B)

Schizophrenia symptoms are categorized into positive and negative domains. Positive symptoms are experiences added to normal functioning, such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech. Negative symptoms are deficits in normal functioning, like flat affect, alogia (reduced speech), avolition (lack of motivation), and social withdrawal. The pairing that lists delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech as positive symptoms and flat affect, alogia, avolition, and social withdrawal as negative symptoms fits this distinction exactly, so it’s the best choice. The other options mix or mislabel symptoms—for example, anxiety/panic attacks aren’t typical primary positive symptoms of schizophrenia, memory loss reflects cognitive issues rather than negative symptoms, and improvements in concentration or energy aren’t characteristic schizophrenia domains.