For the past 4 months, Ryan has been feeling sad and empty. Although he has no reason to, Ryan feels guilty and worthless. Ryan has been sleeping poorly and he is unusually fatigued. Ryan usually loves to play soccer, but his interest in playing has disappeared. Ryan is not eating well and he has lost weight even though he wasn't trying to do so. What disorder would Ryan MOST likely be diagnosed with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ryan's symptoms align with major depressive disorder, characterized by a persistent sad or empty mood, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, changes in sleep and appetite, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, and significant weight change, lasting for more than two weeks. Persistent depressive disorder involves chronic symptoms for at least two years, cyclothymic disorder involves mood swings but not full major depressive episodes, and bipolar disorder includes episodes of mania or hypomania, which are not mentioned in Ryan's case.

For the Past 4 Months, Ryan Has Been Feeling Sad