Owen's brother and mother have both had occurrences of major depressive disorder. Owen himself has had two episodes of major depressive disorder in the past five years. Given this background information, which of the following is one of the best predictors as to whether Owen will experience another episode of major depressive disorder in the future?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

One of the strongest predictors of future episodes of major depressive disorder is experiencing stressful life events. Given that Owen has a family history of major depressive disorder and has already had two episodes himself, it is likely that he may experience another episode if he goes through significant stressors in the future. Excessive use of alcohol or beginning a new relationship could potentially increase his risk, but they are not as strong predictors as experiencing stressful life events. Beginning an exercise program may actually decrease his risk, but it is not a significant enough factor to be the best predictor.

Owen's Brother and Mother Have Both Had Occurrences of Major