Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) Practice Exam

The correct answer is positive symptoms. In schizophrenia, positive symptoms are characterized by the presence of abnormal behaviors and experiences that are not typically seen in healthy individuals. Hallucinations, which can involve hearing or seeing things that are not present, and delusions, which are strongly held beliefs that are false or irrational, fall under this category. These symptoms indicate that the individual is experiencing excesses or distortions of normal functioning.

Negative symptoms, on the other hand, relate to deficits in normal emotional responses or behaviors, such as lack of motivation or social withdrawal, and do not include hallucinations or delusions. Neurocognitive symptoms pertain to cognitive deficits that impact memory, attention, and executive function, which are distinct from the psychotic features represented by positive symptoms. Somatic symptoms generally involve physical complaints that have no identifiable medical causes, making them unrelated to the experiences described in schizophrenia. Understanding these distinctions can help in recognizing and treating the various symptoms associated with schizophrenia.