Affective disturbance is characterized by which expression?

• A. Blunted, inappropriate and odd expression
• B. Fixed beliefs
• C. Auditory hallucinations
• D. Disorganized behavior

Answer: (A)

Affective disturbance refers to how emotion is outwardly expressed, not what someone feels internally. The most accurate description is a mix of blunted affect (little facial or vocal expression), inappropriate affect (emotional expression that doesn't fit the situation), and odd or flat affect (unusual or constricted expressiveness). This combination captures abnormalities in how emotion is displayed, which is what affective disturbance is about.

Fixed beliefs describe delusions, which are thought content rather than emotion expression. Auditory hallucinations are perceptual experiences without external input. Disorganized behavior refers to disrupted actions or thinking, not specifically how emotions are expressed.