Which symptom domain includes reduced motivation and blunted affect in schizophrenia?

Which symptom domain includes reduced motivation and blunted affect in schizophrenia?

• A. Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia
• B. Cognitive Symptoms in Schizophrenia
• C. Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia
• D. Disorganized Symptoms

Answer: (C)

In schizophrenia, symptoms are categorized into four domains: positive, negative, cognitive, and disorganized. Reduced motivation and blunted affect sit squarely in the negative domain. Avolition describes the diminished drive to initiate and persist in goal-directed activities, while blunted affect means a limited display of emotion—flat facial expressions or muted vocal tone. These reflect a loss or diminishment of normal functions rather than new experiences being added. By comparison, positive symptoms are experiences such as hallucinations and delusions; cognitive symptoms involve problems with thinking, memory, or attention; disorganized symptoms refer to disorganized speech or behavior. So the domain that encompasses reduced motivation and blunted affect is the negative symptoms.

In schizophrenia, symptoms are categorized into four domains: positive, negative, cognitive, and disorganized. Reduced motivation and blunted affect sit squarely in the negative domain. Avolition describes the diminished drive to initiate and persist in goal-directed activities, while blunted affect means a limited display of emotion—flat facial expressions or muted vocal tone. These reflect a loss or diminishment of normal functions rather than new experiences being added. By comparison, positive symptoms are experiences such as hallucinations and delusions; cognitive symptoms involve problems with thinking, memory, or attention; disorganized symptoms refer to disorganized speech or behavior. So the domain that encompasses reduced motivation and blunted affect is the negative symptoms.