Mental Health and Psychology Mood Disorders 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum duration of a major depressive episode according to DSM-5?
- 1 week
- 2 weeks (Correct answer)
- 1 month
- 6 months
Correct answer: 2 weeks
DSM-5 requires symptoms of a major depressive episode to be present for at least two weeks, causing significant impairment.
Question 2: Bipolar I Disorder requires at least one episode of:
- Major depression
- Hypomania
- Full mania (Correct answer)
- Mixed features
Correct answer: Full mania
Bipolar I is defined by at least one manic episode lasting 7+ days (or requiring hospitalization), regardless of whether depressive episodes occur.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT a core symptom of major depression according to DSM-5?
- Depressed mood
- Anhedonia
- Hallucinations (Correct answer)
- Fatigue or loss of energy
Correct answer: Hallucinations
Hallucinations are not a core symptom of depression; while psychotic features can occur in severe depression, they are specifiers, not core criteria.
Question 4: Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) requires depressed mood for at least:
- 2 weeks
- 3 months
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 2 years
PDD requires a chronically depressed mood for at least 2 years in adults (1 year in children/adolescents) with never more than 2 symptom-free months.
Question 5: The monoamine hypothesis of depression implicates deficiencies in which neurotransmitters?
- GABA and glutamate
- Acetylcholine and histamine
- Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine (Correct answer)
- Oxytocin and vasopressin
Correct answer: Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
The monoamine hypothesis proposes that depression results from reduced serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine activity in the brain.
Question 6: What is 'anhedonia'?
- Excessive guilt
- Loss of pleasure in previously enjoyable activities (Correct answer)
- Inability to feel anger
- Persistent hopelessness
Correct answer: Loss of pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure from activities once found enjoyable and is one of two core symptoms required for a major depressive episode diagnosis.
Mental Health and Psychology Mood Disorders 1
What is the minimum duration of a major depressive episode according to DSM-5?