A patient with schizophrenia tends to have the most favourable prognosis when

A) the onset of the disorder is gradual.
B) the onset occurs at an early age.
C) the proportion of negative symptoms is relatively low.
D) the patient's family is high in expressed emotion.

Patients with schizophrenia tend to have a more favorable prognosis when the proportion of negative symptoms (e.g., apathy, lack of emotion, poor or nonexistent social functioning) is relatively low. Negative symptoms are often more resistant to treatment and are associated with a poorer outcome compared to positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions).