Which symptom falls under the category of positive symptoms in schizophrenia?

Positive symptoms in schizophrenia are those that represent an excess or distortion of normal functions. Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not present, are classified as positive symptoms because they add experiences that are not typically found in healthy individuals. These symptoms indicate a break from reality and are notably disruptive to the individual's perceptions and thoughts.

In contrast, symptoms like social withdrawal, apathy, and flattened affect are considered negative symptoms. Negative symptoms reflect a decrease or absence of normal emotional responses or social functioning. For instance, social withdrawal indicates a lack of interest in social interactions; apathy represents a lack of motivation or interest in activities; and flattened affect denotes a limited range of emotional expression. These negative symptoms can impair an individual's quality of life but do not include the distorted perceptions characteristic of positive symptoms. Therefore, hallucinations stand out distinctly as a defining characteristic of positive symptoms in schizophrenia.