Final answer:
Symptoms A (Auditory hallucinations) and C (Delusions of grandeur) are considered positive symptoms of schizophrenia, while B (Social withdrawal) and D (Flat affect) are negative symptoms. These classifications are important for guiding treatments with antipsychotic medications, which primarily affect positive symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether specific symptoms are positive or negative in the context of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms are those that add something to the person's behavior that should not be there, like hallucinations and delusions, whereas negative symptoms are impairments of normal emotional responses or thought processes.
- Auditory hallucinations (A) are a positive symptom because they are an addition to the person's perception that is not based in reality.
- Social withdrawal (B) is a negative symptom because it involves the lack of a normal social response and engagement.
- Delusions of grandeur (C) are considered a positive symptom as they represent a false belief that adds to the person's thought content.
- Flat affect (D) is a negative symptom characterized by a lack of emotional expression.
Treatment of schizophrenia often includes antipsychotic medications that affect dopamine neurotransmission. These medications are designed to reduce positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, but they also may cause side effects that resemble negative symptoms, such as reduced emotional expression or interest in the environment.