Gertrude is a 70-year-old widow who is deeply unhappy, pessimistic, and extremely self-critical of everything about herself. She has had a poor appetite, is listless and unmotivated, and finds no pleasure in life. From an analysis of these symptoms, Gertrude's most likely diagnosis is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gertrude's symptoms, including deep unhappiness, pessimism, extreme self-criticism, poor appetite, listlessness, lack of motivation, and anhedonia (finding no pleasure in life), are classic signs of major depression. These symptoms align closely with the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, rather than Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, or somatization disorder.

Gertrude Is a 70-Year-Old Widow Who Is Deeply Unhappy, Pessimistic