A 72-year-old man with known metastatic prostatic cancer presented to the office due to a depressed mood. The patient has been sad most of the time and cries often when thinking about his course of the disease. He has lost appetite with a 6 kg weight loss over the past month. He has difficulty sleeping with multiple awakenings. He has been withdrawn from his family and does not go for family visits. A mental examination shows depressed mood and affect. She has no suicidal ideation. Which of the following presentations is most indicative of major depressive disorder in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: In patients with advanced cancer diseases, symptoms with a somatic presentation like low energy, are less indicative of the major depressive disorder. Thus, mental symptoms like anhedonia, guilt, and suicidality play an increasingly important role in diagnosing major depressive disorder in these patients.

A 72-Year-Old Man with Known Metastatic Prostatic Cancer Presented to the Office