Positive Symptoms

The use of the term positive symptoms refers to symptoms that exist in association with a disorder that are not present in normal conditions. The term positive doesn't mean good or beneficial in this instance - it is used in an empirical sense to mean that something is present.

Examples of positive symptoms include hallucinations (tactile, auditory, visual, olfactory and gustatory), delusions, and disordered thoughts or speech. These symptoms are typically considered to be manifestations of psychosis. On the contrary, negative symptoms refer to symptoms that are characterized by their lack of something that should be present.

Examples of negative symptoms include lack of speech (alogia) or action, lack of interest or motivation (avolition), and social isolation.