Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who are suspicious and withdrawn:

A) universally fear sexual involvement with therapists.
B) are socially disabled by the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
C) exhibit a high degree of hostility as evidenced by rejecting behavior.
D) avoid relationships because they become anxious with emotional closeness.

When an individual is suspicious and distrustful and perceives the world and the people in it as potentially dangerous, withdrawal into an inner world can be a defense against uncomfortable levels of anxiety. When someone attempts to establish a relationship with such a patient, the patient's anxiety rises until trust is established. No evidence suggests that withdrawn patients with schizophrenia universally fear sexual involvement with therapists. In most cases, it is not considered true that withdrawn patients with schizophrenia are socially disabled by the positive symptoms of schizophrenia or exhibit a high degree of hostility by demonstrating rejecting behavior.