A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following behaviors of the client should the nurse identify as a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

A. Initiates speech rarely: This is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, where the individual may exhibit a lack of motivation or interest in social interaction, leading to reduced speech or verbal communication. Negative symptoms refer to the absence or decrease of normal functioning or behaviors, such as lack of speech, emotional expression, or motivation. B. Has a preoccupation with religious thoughts: This is more of a positive symptom, potentially indicating delusions or hallucinations. Positive symptoms involve the presence of abnormal thoughts or behaviors. C. Mimics the nurse's movements: This behavior, called echopraxia, is a positive symptom of schizophrenia, which involves involuntary imitation of another person's movements. D. Smells odors that don't exist: This is a hallucination, which is a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without external stimuli, such as hearing voices or smelling things that aren’t there.