Which of the following is NOT considered a positive symptom of psychotic disorders?

Flat affect is recognized as a negative symptom of psychotic disorders, while delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech fall under the category of positive symptoms. Positive symptoms refer to excesses or additions to a person’s thoughts and behaviors, such as false beliefs (delusions), sensory experiences without external stimuli (hallucinations), and disrupted or nonsensical speech patterns (disorganized speech). In contrast, negative symptoms reflect a decrease in emotional expression or the absence of certain behaviors, such as flat affect, which is characterized by an inability to show emotions or have a range of emotional responses. This distinction highlights how negative symptoms can often impede social interaction and emotional engagement more than the positive symptoms, which may involve more overt or noticeable disturbances in perception and thought processes.