Symptoms
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Blunted affect can create communication difficulties because other people use expression to judge interest, emotion and intention. A neutral face or flat voice may be misread as indifference, dislike or unwillingness to participate. The person…Continue Reading

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Gestures are movements that accompany communication, such as nodding, using the hands or changing posture to emphasise a point. Blunted affect may involve fewer spontaneous gestures or a narrower range of expressive movement. Conversation can…Continue Reading

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Vocal expression includes changes in pitch, rhythm, loudness and emphasis that convey emotion. In blunted affect, speech may sound relatively flat or monotonous even when its meaning is clear. The person may describe an important…Continue Reading

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Facial expression communicates emotion through movements around the eyes, mouth and other facial muscles. In blunted affect, these movements may be less frequent or less varied. A face can appear neutral during events that would…Continue Reading

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Anhedonia concerns pleasure, while low motivation concerns initiating and sustaining activity. They often interact but are not interchangeable. A person may enjoy an experience once it begins yet struggle to organise it. Another may remain…Continue Reading

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Social enjoyment is the pleasure associated with connection, conversation, affection or shared activity. It can be reduced by anhedonia, but low participation does not necessarily mean low enjoyment. A person may want company yet avoid…Continue Reading

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Reward processing includes noticing potential rewards, predicting their value, deciding whether effort is worthwhile and learning from the result. Dopamine is involved, but reward depends on wider networks and several neurotransmitters. Anhedonia cannot be reduced…Continue Reading

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Pleasure during an activity is sometimes called consummatory pleasure. It concerns the experience of enjoyment while eating, listening to music, talking or doing something else rewarding. Some people with schizophrenia retain this capacity despite reporting…Continue Reading

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Anticipated pleasure is the enjoyment someone expects before an activity occurs. It helps motivate planning and effort. A person may remember liking music or visiting a friend yet predict little enjoyment from doing so again.…Continue Reading