How can I Remember the Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
October 4, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Remembering the distinction between positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia can be facilitated through simple memory aids and understanding their characteristics. Here’s a brief overview of the differences and mnemonic techniques to help recall them:
- Positive Symptoms:
- Definition: These symptoms involve added or exaggerated experiences beyond normal functioning.
- Mnemonic: Think of “Positive” as “Adding” or “Presence” of abnormal experiences.
- Examples:
- Hallucinations: Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that others do not.
- Delusions: Strongly held false beliefs or misinterpretations of reality.
- Disorganized Speech: Difficulty organizing thoughts into coherent speech.
- Agitation or Excitement: Exhibiting heightened or excessive behavior.
- Negative Symptoms:
- Definition: These symptoms involve a decrease or loss of normal functioning or traits.
- Mnemonic: Think of “Negative” as “Taking Away” or “Absence” of normal functioning.
- Examples:
- Affective Flattening: Limited range of emotional expression.
- Alogia: Reduced speech output or impoverished speech content.
- Anhedonia: Reduced ability to experience pleasure or interest in activities.
- Avolition: Decreased motivation to initiate and sustain purposeful activities.
- Social Withdrawal: Difficulty maintaining relationships and engaging socially.
Creating flashcards or mnemonic phrases based on these concepts can further aid in remembering and differentiating between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Regular review and repetition of these associations will help solidify the distinction in your memory.