negative symptoms
Symptoms of schizophrenia representing diminished or absent normal functions, such as reduced emotional expression and motivation.
Full Definition
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia represent a reduction or loss of normal psychological functions and behaviors, contrasting with the positive symptoms that represent additions to normal experience. The five primary negative symptoms include affective flattening (reduced emotional expression), alogia (poverty of speech), avolition (lack of motivation), anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), and attention deficits. These symptoms often have a greater impact on functional outcomes and quality of life than positive symptoms and typically respond less well to conventional antipsychotic treatments.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate when used as compound adjective; contrast clearly with positive symptoms in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The patient's negative symptoms remained prominent despite adequate control of hallucinations." — Psychiatric evaluation report
- "Rehabilitation programs focus specifically on addressing negative symptoms and functional impairment." — Treatment planning document