Question 1

Sohila has been deteriorating for more than a year. She is always tired (she does not sleep), she is losing weight (she eats poorly), she is sad, she feels terrible, and she feels like it will never get any better. When she responds to questions, it is clear that nothing in particular has happened. Based on these data, the diagnosis MOST likely would be:

Accepted Answer

Sohila has been deteriorating for more than a year without any particular event as a trigger. She is experiencing persistent symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, sadness, and hopelessness, which are characteristic of endogenous depression. Endogenous depression is caused by internal factors such as genetics and neurochemistry rather than external stressors, and it can be difficult to treat.

Question 2

What are the chances that researchers will develop a specific, gene-based explanation for unipolar depression in the near future?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the chances that researchers will...

Question 3

Jamal is experiencing a major depressive episode that appears to have begun three weeks ago. He is miserable and suffers from at least five symptoms of depression. No unusually stressful events have occurred in the past year. Based on these data, the diagnosis would be:

Accepted Answer

The absence of any identifiable external events or stressors suggests that the depression is endogenous, which refers to depression that arises from within the individual rather than in response to external stressors.

Question 4

Which statement is true for women experiencing postpartum depression regarding psychotherapy for depression?

Accepted Answer

Many women with postpartum depression find self-help support groups particularly helpful. While antidepressant medications can be effective in treating postpartum depression, they are not always the first choice for women who are breastfeeding or have concerns about potential side effects on the baby. Psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, can also be effective treatments for postpartum depression. However, self-help support groups have been found to be particularly helpful for many women with postpartum depression, providing them with a sense of community and a safe space to share their experiences and feelings with others who have gone through similar challenges.

Question 5

There are several factors related to unipolar depression-reduced positive reinforcers, gene abnormalities, and life stress, to name a few. How do these factors relate to depression? The MOST recent research shows that:

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that some factors, such as gene abnormalities, may predispose individuals to depression, while other factors, such as life stress and reduced positive reinforcers, may trigger or maintain depressive symptoms. Therefore, it appears that different factors may play different roles in causing and maintaining depression, and it is likely that a combination of factors contributes to the onset and persistence of depression.

Question 6

To receive a diagnosis of major depressive episode, melancholic, an individual must display:

Accepted Answer

To receive a diagnosis of major depressive episode, melancholic, an individual must display almost no emotional response to pleasurable events. The other options are not specific to melancholic depression.

Question 7

If a study showed that both monozygotic twins had about a 45 percent chance of having unipolar depression when one twin had unipolar depression, this would provide:

Accepted Answer

Monozygotic twins share 100% of their genes, so if one twin has unipolar depression and the other twin has a 45% chance of also having unipolar depression, this suggests that there is a genetic factor involved in the development of unipolar depression.

Question 8

All the pleasure has gone out of life for Trevor. Things he used to find fun and exciting no longer give him any joy. He wakes up early in the morning and has no appetite. This has been going on for several weeks. With what type of major depression would he MOST likely be diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described in the scenario, such as loss of pleasure, reduced appetite, and early morning awakening, are characteristic features of melancholic depression.

Question 9

A woman who has just given birth is anxious, has trouble sleeping, and feels sad. These symptoms diminish in the next couple of weeks. What she has experienced is most likely:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A woman who has just given birth...

Question 10

A woman experiences recurrent thoughts of suicide, great sadness, and sleep disturbance. These symptoms began a week after she gave birth and have lasted more than six months. The woman is experiencing:

Accepted Answer

The woman is experiencing postpartum depression, which is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and thoughts of self-harm that last for more than two weeks after giving birth. Hormone withdrawal syndrome and the "baby blues" are temporary and typically resolve within a few weeks after delivery. Postpartum psychosis is a rare and severe condition that involves delusions, hallucinations, and manic or psychotic behavior, and requires immediate medical attention.

Question 11

_____ follows clear-cut stressful events where _____ seems to be a response to internal factors.

Accepted Answer

Reactive depression typically follows clear-cut stressful events, while endogenous depression is believed to result from internal factors such as genetics or chemical imbalances in the brain.

Question 12

This disorder may be categorized as seasonal if it changes with the seasons.

Accepted Answer

Major depressive disorder can be categorized as seasonal if it occurs at a specific time of year, typically in the fall or winter, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Question 13

A woman being treated for postpartum depression after the birth of her first child is most likely to:

Accepted Answer

Research shows that women who have experienced postpartum depression with their first child have a higher risk (up to 50 percent) of experiencing it again with subsequent births. While there is not a guarantee that every woman will experience postpartum depression with every subsequent birth, the risk is certainly increased.

Question 14

Juan is currently experiencing a period of sadness that has resulted in almost total immobility. He sits in a chair all day and almost never moves. His wife has to assist him in getting into bed at night. What type of major depression would he MOST likely be diagnosed with?

Accepted Answer

Juan's immobility and lack of movement suggest catatonic features, which are characterized by extreme physical inactivity and other odd behaviors such as echolalia or stereotyped movements.

Question 15

Judith is currently experiencing a period of sadness that interferes with her ability to go to work and to take care of her children. It has lasted for three weeks, and she has experienced similar episodes in the past. What type of major depression would she MOST likely be diagnosed with?

Accepted Answer

Based on the given information, Judith is experiencing a period of sadness that has lasted for three weeks and has occurred in the past, indicating that she is experiencing persistent depressive disorder (formerly known as dysthymia), which involves a chronic, long-term depressed mood. She does not meet the criteria for seasonal depression (A) as no seasonal pattern is mentioned, catatonic depression (B) as there is no indication of motor symptoms, or melancholic depression (D) as there is no information regarding loss of pleasure in activities or other melancholic features.

Question 16

To receive a diagnosis of dysthymic syndrome, an individual must have experienced symptoms for at least:

Accepted Answer

To receive a diagnosis of dysthymic syndrome, an individual must have experienced symptoms of depression for at least two years in adults or one year in children and adolescents.

Question 17

Family pedigree and twin studies have been used to look for a genetic predisposition for unipolar depression. These studies have found:

Accepted Answer

Family pedigree and twin studies have found a higher than chance rate of depression among the families of depressed patients, suggesting a genetic predisposition for the disorder. This is consistent with the idea that depression has a heritable component.

Question 18

Since immediately after the birth of her son, Maria has experienced a period of sadness that interferes with her ability to take care of him. She has never felt this way before, and this has been going on for several weeks. With what type of major depression would she MOST likely be diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Postpartum depression is a type of major depression that occurs after giving birth, typically characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that interfere with the ability to care for the newborn. It is a specific form of depression that affects women after childbirth and is not related to seasonal, catatonic, or melancholic depression.

Question 19

Family pedigree and twin studies have been used to look for a predisposition for unipolar depression within families. Which theoretical framework encompasses these studies?

Accepted Answer

The biological framework encompasses family pedigree and twin studies, as it looks at the role of genetics and biological factors in the development and expression of mental disorders.

Question 20

Jose saw his best friend shot and killed by a gunman who was driving through his neighborhood. A month later he is in a psychologist's office complaining that he cannot work; everything seems hopeless. There are several other symptoms consistent with these. Based on these data, the diagnosis would MOST likely be:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of feeling hopeless, inability to work, and other consistent symptoms after witnessing a traumatic event suggest that the diagnosis is reactive depression, which is a form of depression triggered by a significant life event such as the one experienced by Jose.

Quiz 7: Depressive and Bipolar Disorders