Which term refers to periods with predominantly negative or attenuated symptoms?

Which term refers to periods with predominantly negative or attenuated symptoms?

• A. Symptoms of Schizophrenia
• B. Relapse in Brief Psychotic Disorder
• C. Prodromal/Residual Periods in Schizophrenia
• D. Treatment Nonadherence Predictor

Answer: (C)

Periods with predominantly negative or attenuated symptoms describe the prodromal or residual phases of schizophrenia. The prodromal phase occurs before the full emergence of psychosis and may show social withdrawal, reduced motivation, and odd thoughts, while the residual phase follows an acute episode where positive psychotic features have lessened but negative symptoms—such as flat affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, and social withdrawal—remain. This term specifically characterizes times when full-blown positive symptoms are not present, but functional impairment persists due to these milder or negative features.

Periods with predominantly negative or attenuated symptoms describe the prodromal or residual phases of schizophrenia. The prodromal phase occurs before the full emergence of psychosis and may show social withdrawal, reduced motivation, and odd thoughts, while the residual phase follows an acute episode where positive psychotic features have lessened but negative symptoms—such as flat affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, and social withdrawal—remain. This term specifically characterizes times when full-blown positive symptoms are not present, but functional impairment persists due to these milder or negative features.