Persistent Depressive Disorder General 4

Question 1

Which term was used in DSM-IV for what is now called Persistent Depressive Disorder in DSM-5?

Accepted Answer

Dysthymia (Dysthymic Disorder)

Answer

DSM-IV used the term 'Dysthymic Disorder,' which DSM-5 consolidated with chronic MDD into the unified category of Persistent Depressive Disorder.

Question 2

A patient reports chronic depressed mood plus two PDD symptoms for 18 months with no symptom-free period exceeding 2 months. Which diagnosis applies?

Accepted Answer

Persistent Depressive Disorder cannot be diagnosed

Answer

PDD requires a minimum of 2 years in adults; at 18 months, diagnostic criteria are not yet met even if all other features are present.

Question 3

In PDD, the mood disturbance is present for most of the day, more days than not. How is this typically confirmed in clinical practice?

Accepted Answer

Patient report and clinician observation

Answer

Consistent with DSM-5 criteria, the pervasiveness of mood in PDD is established through patient self-report supplemented by clinician observation.

Question 4

Which of the following findings is most likely in neurobiological research on Persistent Depressive Disorder compared to healthy controls?

Accepted Answer

HPA axis dysregulation and elevated cortisol

Answer

Research consistently shows HPA axis dysregulation and chronically elevated cortisol in PDD, similar to but often less pronounced than in MDD.

Question 5

What does the term 'double depression' historically refer to?

Accepted Answer

A Major Depressive Episode superimposed on pre-existing PDD

Answer

'Double depression' refers to the co-occurrence of a Major Depressive Episode on top of pre-existing Persistent Depressive Disorder.

Persistent Depressive Disorder Practice Test