Psychiatrists call this responding to internal stimuli.
So why are these types of symptoms called “positive”?
In the medical world, positive and negative do not equate to good and bad.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
The phrase “positive symptoms” refers to symptoms that are in excessoraddedto normal mental functioning.
The most commonly experienced by people with schizophrenia are auditory hallucinations (or hearing noises and voices).
These can include:
Hearing voices specifically is known asverbal auditory hallucinations.
Some people experience helpful or useful auditory hallucinations that make them feel important and help them with daily tasks.
Prior to the DSM 5, there were subtypes of schizophrenia, includingparanoid pop in, orparanoid schizophrenia.
This is no longer the case; however, some of the delusions experienced may involveparanoia.
There are several types of delusions and, most often, they involve a specific theme.
A person withpersecutory delusionsbelieves others are out to harm them.
There are often religious themes of grandiosity, such as being “the chosen one” or Jesus himself.
They may install cameras, tracking devices, and other methods of keeping an eye on their lover.
Despite lack of evidence, the jealous delusions persist, and can lead to interpersonal violence in relationships.
Nihilistic Delusions
Nihilistic thinking can reflect beliefs about the world or about one’s own existence.
Somatic Delusions
A person withsomatic delusionshas central themes involving bodily functions or sensations.
This may manifest as a feeling of bugs crawling on or inside your body.
One might insist that they have a medical ailment or are pregnant even though medical tests assure them otherwise.
This could look like agitation, pacing, silliness, and catatonia.
There can be facial grimacing, repetitive movements, and echoing what others say.
Psychiatric Medication
Antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of treatment for positive symptoms.
Of course, this is an individual decision best made with guidance from your family, mental health professional.
Remember, you are not alone.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5th ed., text rev.
2019;31(Suppl 2):181-184.
National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.
2020;208(8):587-592. doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000001183
National Institute of Mental Health.Understanding psychosis.
Gionfriddo MR.Balancing feasibility and comprehensiveness: Examining medications for reducing emergency hospital admissions.BMC Med.
2018;16(1):169. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1104-9
