Which characteristic would help a nurse distinguish between dysthymia and major depressive disorder (MDD)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dysthymia is characterized by a chronically depressed mood for at least 2 years, while MDD is characterized by a depressed mood that lasts for at least 2 weeks. Therefore, a nurse would distinguish between the two based on the duration of the mood disturbance, with dysthymia being a long-standing, chronic problem. The other options are incorrect: A) Depression associated with the menstrual cycle is known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is a separate diagnosis; C) MDD lasts for at least 2 weeks, not 2 years; D) Both dysthymia and MDD can have delusions or hallucinations, although they are less common than in other types of depression.

Which Characteristic Would Help a Nurse Distinguish Between Dysthymia and Major