Which of the following is a positive psychiatric ROS example?

• A. Hallucinating visually or audibly
• B. Delusional thinking
• C. Disorganized behavior and speech
• D. Agitated or repetitive movements

Answer: (A)

Positive symptoms are experiences added to normal function, such as perceptual disturbances or unusual thoughts. Hallucinations—seeing or hearing things that aren’t real—are a classic example of a positive psychiatric symptom and are the clearest ROS item indicating psychosis. Delusional thinking and disorganized speech are also positive symptoms, but hallucinations are the prototypical, most directly detectable example during a psychiatric ROS. Agitated or repetitive movements are more of a motor/behavioral sign and not the quintessential positive symptom of psychosis evaluated in ROS.