MCAT Behavioral Sciences Question 204: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 204

2. A patient is brought into the hospital. After completing a clinical interview and direct observation, the staff psychologist diagnoses the patient with schizophrenia, catatonic type. Which of the following is most likely true about this patient's clinical presentation?

I. Terrifying persecutory hallucinations were dominant

II. Negative symptoms were dominant

III. Negative and positive symptoms were equally manifest

  • A. I only
  • B. II only
  • C. III only
  • D. I and III

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Item I is false: the diagnosis of schizophrenia, catatonic type is only given when negative symptoms, such as flat affect and rigidity, are the dominant symptoms. Hallucinations, on the other hand, are considered "positive" symptoms. Thus, if hallucinations were dominant, there would be no designation of catatonic type (choices A and D can be eliminated). Item II is true: the designation of catatonic type requires the predominance of negative symptoms (choice C can be eliminated and choice B is correct). Item III is in fact false: a fairly even distribution of both positive and negative symptoms would not indicate a designation of catatonic type, as described above.

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