Negative symptoms stability

Negative symptoms stability

• A. Rapid improvement with treatment
• B. Stable over time
• C. Rapid decline
• D. Absent

Answer: (B)

Negative symptoms, such as reduced motivation, alogia, and flat affect, tend to be persistent and change slowly over time. With treatment, they rarely show rapid improvement and often plateau, meaning they remain relatively stable rather than rapidly getting better or worse. That’s why describing them as stable over time best fits their typical course. If they do improve, it’s usually gradual and partial, not quick. Absent negative symptoms would mean they’re not present at all, which isn’t the usual expectation for someone with these features.

Negative symptoms, such as reduced motivation, alogia, and flat affect, tend to be persistent and change slowly over time. With treatment, they rarely show rapid improvement and often plateau, meaning they remain relatively stable rather than rapidly getting better or worse. That’s why describing them as stable over time best fits their typical course. If they do improve, it’s usually gradual and partial, not quick. Absent negative symptoms would mean they’re not present at all, which isn’t the usual expectation for someone with these features.