Mya is a 13-year-old girl who is doing poorly in school. Her mother reports that she sleeps all day, does not eat well, and cries a lot for no reason. Mya makes very little eye contact and complains that her life is boring and pointless. What type of disorder do these symptoms suggest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mya's symptoms suggest a depressive disorder, as she displays symptoms such as poor school performance, changes in sleep and appetite, lack of interest, crying without reason, and negative thoughts about her life. The lack of eye contact also suggests feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem, which are common in depressive disorders. Bipolar disorder may involve mood swings between depression and mania, which is not evident in Mya's case. Anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder mainly involve symptoms such as excessive worry or anxiety, repetitive behaviors or thoughts, and avoidance behaviors, which are not seen in Mya's case.

Mya Is a 13-Year-Old Girl Who Is Doing Poorly in School