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Addressing the 
positive symptoms of 
schizophrenia is only 
the start

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Image of Kody, influencer living with scziophrenia

IDENTIFICATION

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are the most easily identified and 
can be dramatic1,2

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are those symptoms that are not normally experienced but are present in people during a psychotic episode in schizophrenia. Such symptoms often draw the attention of medical professionals and contribute to social stigmas.2 
They include3:

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Delusions

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Hallucinations

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Disorganized behavior

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Disorganized speech

MANAGEMENT

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Positive symptoms of schizophrenia generally respond well to medication1

Several approved antipsychotics are available for the treatment of positive symptoms. However, they are not indicated to improve cognitive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia.1,2,4 

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While most easily identifiable, positive symptoms 
of schizophrenia may not appear first1,2,5,6 

Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia and negative symptoms may appear before the onset of positive symptoms and remain over the course of the disease.1,5,6 

While treating positive 
symptoms is important, it’s 
often just the start

There are currently no approved pharmacological options for treating cognitive and negative symptoms. However, cognitive and negative symptoms can have a major impact on the daily lives of people living with schizophrenia.1,4,7

Schizophrenia symptom domains positive symptoms
let's look beyond stable

Learn more about the range of symptom domains seen in people living with schizophrenia and discover resources that can help.

#lookbeyondstable
 

  1. Correll CU, Schooler NR. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia: a review and clinical guide for recognition, assessment, and treatment. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2020;16:519-534. doi:10.2147/NDT.S225643

  2. Stahl SM. Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. 4th ed. Cambridge University Press; 2013.

  3. Ayano G. Schizophrenia: a concise overview of etiology, epidemiology diagnosis and management: review of literatures. J Schizophr Res. 2016;3(2):1-7.

  4. Keefe RSE. Why are there no approved treatments for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia? World Psychiatry. 2019;18(2):167-168. doi:10.1002/wps.20648

  5. García-Laredo E. Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: description and cognitive familiar endophenotypes. A review of the literature. In: Irtelli F, ed. Psychosis - Biopsychosocial and Relational Perspectives. 2018:43-67.

  6. Bowie R, Harvey PD. Cognitive deficits and functional outcome in schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2006;2(4):531-536. doi:10.2147/nedt.2006.2.4.531

  7. Kitchen H, Rofail D, Heron L, Sacco P. Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia: a review of the humanistic burden. Adv Ther. 2012;29(2):148-162. doi:10.1007/s12325-012-0001-4