Which of these is a positive symptom of Schizophrenia?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Delusions

Option (1) Alogia — Incorrect. It is a negative symptom (a ‘pathological deficit’): poverty of speech, a reduction in speech and speech content. Something is missing, not added.

Option (2) Delusions — Correct. Positive symptoms are ‘pathological excesses’ or ‘bizarre additions’ to behaviour. A delusion, a false belief firmly held on inadequate grounds, is something added that should not be there, and it is among the positive symptoms most often found in schizophrenia.

Option (3) Catatonia — Incorrect. Catatonia is the extreme form of the psychomotor symptoms, the third group of symptoms: the person may stay motionless and silent for long periods (catatonic stupor), hold a rigid posture or take bizarre positions.

Option (4) Avolition — Incorrect. Another negative symptom, the loss of volition: apathy and an inability to start or complete a course of action.

Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 29-05-2026 (Slot 2).

NCERT (2025-26): “Symptoms of Schizophrenia … The symptoms of schizophrenia can be grouped into three categories, viz. positive symptoms (i.e. excesses of thought, emotion, and behaviour), negative symptoms (i.e. deficits of thought, emotion, and behaviour), and psychomotor symptoms. Positive symptoms are ‘pathological excesses’ or ‘bizarre additions’ to a person’s behaviour. Delusions, disorganised thinking and speech, heightened perception and hallucinations, and inappropriate affect are the ones most often found in schizophrenia.…”

“…Negative symptoms are ‘pathological deficits’ and include poverty of speech, blunted and flat affect, loss of volition, and social withdrawal. People with schizophrenia show alogia or poverty of speech, i.e. a reduction in speech and speech content. Many people with schizophrenia show less anger, sadness, joy, and other feelings than most people do. Thus they have blunted affect. Some show no emotions at all, a condition known as flat affect.…”