A counselor is conducting an initial intake interview with a 45-year-old male client who reports a 'low mood,' increased sleep, and a lack of interest in his usual hobbies for the past month after being laid off from his job.
During the Mental Status Exam (MSE), the counselor notes the client's affect is constricted, but his thought process is logical and goal-directed.
Which of the following components of the MSE is MOST crucial for differentiating between an adjustment disorder and a major depressive episode at this stage?
