Which of the following is classified as a PRIMARY negative symptom of schizophrenia?

• A Auditory hallucinations
• B Somatic delusions
• C Tangentiality
• D Avolition ✓

Explanation

The five recognised primary negative symptoms are anhedonia, avolition, alogia, affective flattening, and asociality. Avolition is the loss of drive and initiative to begin or sustain goal-directed activity. Hallucinations and delusions are positive symptoms, and tangentiality is a formal thought disorder, also a positive phenomenon. Secondary negative symptoms caused by depression, extrapyramidal effects of antipsychotics, or social deprivation are distinguished from these primary ones clinically.

Reference: Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 12th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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