Which statement correctly describes the difference between signs and symptoms in mental health?

• A. Signs are subjective experiences reported by the person; symptoms are objective indicators observed by others.
• B. Symptoms are objective indicators observed by others; signs are subjective experiences reported by the person.
• C. Signs and symptoms are the same thing.
• D. Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the person; signs are objective indicators observed by others.

Answer: (D)

The key difference is who reports what: symptoms are subjective experiences described by the person, while signs are objective indicators that others can observe. In mental health, a person might report feeling anxious, sad, or tired—that’s a symptom. A clinician or observer might notice signs such as restlessness, rapid speech, a flat or blunted affect, or poor hygiene. Because symptoms come from the person’s own experience and signs come from what can be observed, the statement that symptoms are subjective and signs are objective is the most accurate. The other options mix up who describes them or claim they’re the same, which doesn’t fit how signs and symptoms are understood in practice.