Major depressive disorder is defined by which criteria?

Major depressive disorder is defined by which criteria?

• A. Serious depressive disorder lasting at least two weeks with depressed mood or loss of interest that interferes with daily activities.
• B. A mood disorder involving mania.
• C. Persistent anxiety about future events.
• D. A short-term grief reaction.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that major depressive disorder is defined by a major depressive episode: at least two weeks of persistent depressive symptoms, with either depressed mood or loss of interest (anhedonia) that causes noticeable impairment in daily functioning. The choice reflects this precisely—a duration of at least two weeks and symptoms (depressed mood or loss of interest) that interfere with daily activities, indicating clinically significant distress or impairment. In full DSM terms, you also need several other symptoms to total five or more during that two-week period, but having depressed mood or anhedonia plus impairment is the essential hallmark captured here. The other options point to conditions that aren’t depressive episodes: mania (seen in bipolar disorders), persistent anxiety, or a brief grief reaction, none of which meet the core duration and impairment criteria for major depressive disorder.

The key idea is that major depressive disorder is defined by a major depressive episode: at least two weeks of persistent depressive symptoms, with either depressed mood or loss of interest (anhedonia) that causes noticeable impairment in daily functioning. The choice reflects this precisely—a duration of at least two weeks and symptoms (depressed mood or loss of interest) that interfere with daily activities, indicating clinically significant distress or impairment.

In full DSM terms, you also need several other symptoms to total five or more during that two-week period, but having depressed mood or anhedonia plus impairment is the essential hallmark captured here. The other options point to conditions that aren’t depressive episodes: mania (seen in bipolar disorders), persistent anxiety, or a brief grief reaction, none of which meet the core duration and impairment criteria for major depressive disorder.