Major depressive disorder is defined as experiencing, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, 2 or more weeks of which symptoms?

Major depressive disorder is defined as experiencing, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, 2 or more weeks of which symptoms?

• A. Significantly low moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities.
• B. Excessive worry about multiple topics.
• C. Psychotic symptoms such as delusions.
• D. Elevated mood and increased energy.

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is recognizing the typical depressive symptom pattern that defines major depressive disorder over a two-week period, without substances or another medical condition contributing to the symptoms. For MDD, you look for at least two weeks of persistent changes in mood and functioning, with depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) being essential features, and usually multiple other symptoms such as feelings of worthlessness, sleep or appetite changes, fatigue, or concentration problems. The best answer describes having a significantly low mood, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities. This captures both depressed mood and anhedonia, with accompanying negative cognitions, which together align with the core presentation of MDD over the required time frame. The other options point to different phenomena: excessive worry reflects a anxiety pattern, psychotic symptoms can occur in severe mood episodes but are not the defining cluster for MDD by themselves, and elevated mood with increased energy signals mania, not depression.

The main concept here is recognizing the typical depressive symptom pattern that defines major depressive disorder over a two-week period, without substances or another medical condition contributing to the symptoms. For MDD, you look for at least two weeks of persistent changes in mood and functioning, with depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) being essential features, and usually multiple other symptoms such as feelings of worthlessness, sleep or appetite changes, fatigue, or concentration problems.

The best answer describes having a significantly low mood, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities. This captures both depressed mood and anhedonia, with accompanying negative cognitions, which together align with the core presentation of MDD over the required time frame.

The other options point to different phenomena: excessive worry reflects a anxiety pattern, psychotic symptoms can occur in severe mood episodes but are not the defining cluster for MDD by themselves, and elevated mood with increased energy signals mania, not depression.