Lack of verbal responses is best described as which term?

Lack of verbal responses is best described as which term?

• A. Mutism
• B. Stupor
• C. Catatonic excitement
• D. Negative Symptoms

Answer: (A)

Mutism is the precise term for a marked absence of verbal speech despite the ability to speak and understand. It captures the situation where there are no verbal responses at all, which is more specific than broader ideas like alogia (reduced speech) or negative symptoms in general. Stupor describes a general unresponsiveness with minimal movement, not just a lack of speech, and catatonic excitement refers to agitation with prominent motor activity, the opposite of mute silence. Negative symptoms encompass a range of deficits (like reduced affect, motivation, or speech), but mutism specifically denotes not speaking, making it the best description for this presentation.

Mutism is the precise term for a marked absence of verbal speech despite the ability to speak and understand. It captures the situation where there are no verbal responses at all, which is more specific than broader ideas like alogia (reduced speech) or negative symptoms in general. Stupor describes a general unresponsiveness with minimal movement, not just a lack of speech, and catatonic excitement refers to agitation with prominent motor activity, the opposite of mute silence. Negative symptoms encompass a range of deficits (like reduced affect, motivation, or speech), but mutism specifically denotes not speaking, making it the best description for this presentation.