Every winter for the past three years,Natalie has felt extremely depressed for a period of months and is unable to keep up with her responsibilities because of her low energy and difficulty concentrating.She always appears to feel better by early spring and is at her best during the summer.Which of the following DSM-5 diagnoses would best fit Natalie?
A)Cyclothymic disorder
B)Major depression-
C)Seasonal affective disorder
D)Natalie's symptoms reflect normal mood fluctuations and would not be given a DSM-5 diagnosis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natalie's symptoms are consistent with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a recurrent major depressive disorder that occurs during specific seasons (typically winter). SAD is diagnosed in individuals who experience two or more consecutive seasons of major depressive episodes that remit during other seasons. The other options are not the best fits for Natalie's symptoms. Cyclothymic disorder is a milder form of bipolar disorder, and individuals with this disorder experience chronic mood instability with periods of hypomania and depression. Major depression is not a good fit for Natalie's symptoms because her depressive episodes occur only during specific seasons. Finally, option D is incorrect because Natalie's symptoms are not within the normal range of mood fluctuations.

Every Winter for the Past Three Years,Natalie Has Felt Extremely