Symptomatology

Positive Symptoms

These types of symptoms are referred to as "positive" because, compared to a normal

mental state, certain individuals have more mental experiences (thoughts, feelings,
behaviors) than others. The phrase "positive symptoms" refers to symptoms that are in
excess or added to normal mental functioning.

Symptom Presence Rationale Justification

After a traumatic and
stressful life event,
the person will start
to develop fear in
factors relating to the
traumatic event.
Preganglionic
dopaminergic
neurons release
excessive dopamine
in the mesolimbic
pathway which in
The patient has
return is sent to
persecutory
synaptic cleft. These
delusions. In one of
bind with dopamine
the sister’s
receptors on
statements, she said
postganglionic
Delusion Present that “nagapahawa na
neuron of nucleus of
siya ug tao na
accumbens, then
muduol diri sa
results to
among balay kay
overstimulation on
panan aw niya
the nucleus of
pasakitan siya.”
accumbens.
Hyperactive thought
process takes place
and there is
increased blood flow
in the frontal lobe
and Bronca’s area,
which leads to
delusion.

Source: Durand, V.
and Barlow, D.

115
 (2013). Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
If a person develops
an intense fear on a
specific factor due to
a traumatic event,
there will be a
release in excess
dopamine which will
be deposited in the
synaptic cleft.
Dopamine then
binds on its
receptors but will
cause
overstimulation of
According to the
nucleus of
sister of the patient,
accumbens.
he was often times
Increased blood flow
Hallucination Present heard talking to
to frontal lobe and
himself saying “Oo
Bronca’s area
lagi, magpakatino
happens which ends
nako, hawa na diri.”
to inability to
recognize
metacognition,
therefore,
hallucination takes
place.

Durand, V. and
Barlow, D. (2013).
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
There will be Based on the
overproduction of statement of the
dopamine on sister, the patient
Illusions Present preganglionic stopped eating
dopaminergic regular meals due to
neurons which will the fact that he was
be released on seeing worms on his

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mesolimbic pathway. rice. He started
This overproduction consuming biscuits
will then and water instead.
overstimulate the
nucleus of
accumbens, which
will lead to increased
blood flow on the
frontal lobe and
Bronca’s area. There
will be inability to
interpret existing
stimuli which is
known to be illusion.

Durand, V. and
Barlow, D. (2013).
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.

117
Negative Symptoms

The negative symptoms include symptoms where there is a decrease or a loss in a

mental function compared to normal functioning.

Symptom Presence Rationale Justification

After developing an
intense fear of a
certain object or
factor, the
preganglionic
dopaminergic
neurons release
excess dopamine in
the mesolimbic
pathway which
causes a decrease
in dopamine for
mesocortical
pathway. There will
Avolition was
be low amounts of
present in the
dopamine in the
patient. It was
prefrontal cortex
present during the
which then leads to
time he stopped
its under stimulation.
Avolition Present driving his sikad,
This brain region
which was his
has been implicated
primary source of
in planning complex
income. He started
cognitive behavior,
to confine his self in
personality
his room since then.
expression, decision
making, and
moderating social
behaviour. Avolition
takes place
thereafter.

Durand, V. and
Barlow, D. (2013).
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.

118
 When there is
excess production of
dopamine in
mesolimbic
pathways, there will
be decrease in
dopamine for
mesocortical
pathway as an
effect. This impairs
Patient did not
the Wernicke’s area.
manifest signs of
This area of the
alogia. He nor his
brain is responsible
relatives reported
Alogia Absent for speech
that he experienced
comprehension,
poverty nor
when impaired, it will
disturbance in
result to poverty
speech.
speech, commonly
known as alogia.

Durand, V. and
Barlow, D. (2013).
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
The decrease
production of
dopamine in
mesocortical Patient manifested
pathway due to both social and
excess production in physical anhedonia.
mesolimbic pathway Social anhedonia in
leads to under the sense that he
stimulation of the had withdrawn
Anhedonia Present prefrontal cortex. himself from his
The brain has an family and friends.
extensive Physical anhedonia
distribution of in terms of him not
reward-related finding satisfaction in
circuitry with some eating his favorite
hedonic meals before.
mechanisms found
in this cortex, if
impaired, there will

119
 be decrease in the
ability to feel
pleasure.

Durand, V. and
Barlow, D. (2013).
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
The under
stimulation of
prefrontal cortex
caused by the
decrease in
The patient
dopamine, due to
manifested a flat
overproduction in
affect before
mesolimbic is
admission. “Di
associated apathetic
Affective Flattening Present naman to siya halos
symptoms.
mu smile, kanang
seryoso na bitaw
Durand, V. and
kayo na sya ug
Barlow, D. (2013).
nawong.”
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.

120
Disorganized Symptoms
These symptoms include a variety of erratic behaviors that affect speech, motor
behavior, and emotional reactions.

Symptom Presence Rationale Justification

Poor regulation of
dopamine pathways
in the frontal lobe
can lead to
impairment of
Broca’s speech Patient have not had
center in disorganized speech
schizophrenia. It as reported by the
could result to relatives of the
Disorganized language and patient. “Tarong pa
Absent
Speech speech man sya mustorya,
disorganization. kanang naa pay
sense bitaw” as
Durand, V. and reported by the
Barlow, D. (2013). sister.
Essentials of
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
The under
stimulation of
prefrontal cortex
caused by the
The patient had
decrease in
manifested
dopamine, due to
inapproproiate affect
overproduction in
as evidenced by the
mesolimbic is
statement of his
associated apathetic
Inappropriate Affect Present older sister “wala na
symptoms.
jud namo na sya
nakit an mukatawa
Durand, V. and
or mu smile maski
Barlow, D. (2013).
lingaw na kaayo mi
Essentials of
sa tv.”
Abnormal
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.
Disorganized Prefrontal cortex “Manghadlok man to
Present
Behavior impairment can sya ug mga silingan

121
 result to an gamit ang pocket
individual’s inability knife unya kanang
to behave correctly, pagkaon bitaw,
often acting ilabay human ug
shockingly or getting luto, wala na tilaw
into fights. tilaw.” As reported
by the older sister of
Durand, V. and the patient who
Barlow, D. (2013). happened to visit his
Essentials of brother at the time of
Abnormal both incidents.
Psychology. 6th ed.
Wadsworth:
Cengage Learning.

Subsequent
research on patients
with prefrontal
impairments have
shown that they
verbalize what the
most appropriate
social response
would be under the
circumstances, yet,
when actually
performing, they will
still pursue actions
which are aimed at
immediate
gratification. They
always pick what
sounds pleasurable
and easy. (University
of Santo Tomas
Research, 2014)

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