Persistent Depressive Disorder Persistent Depressive Disorder MCQ 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which specifier is used when a patient with Persistent Depressive Disorder experiences a major depressive episode superimposed on their chronic low mood?
- With anxious distress
- With pure dysthymic syndrome
- With intermittent major depressive episodes (Correct answer)
- With melancholic features
Correct answer: With intermittent major depressive episodes
DSM-5 uses the specifier 'with intermittent major depressive episodes' when full MDD criteria are met during the course of PDD.
Question 2: A patient has had depressed mood for 3 years but has never been symptom-free for more than 4 weeks. Which DSM-5 criterion does this pattern satisfy for PDD?
- The 2-year duration requirement with no remission longer than 2 months (Correct answer)
- The requirement for continuous symptoms without any breaks
- The need for at least one major depressive episode
- The exclusion of hypomanic episodes
Correct answer: The 2-year duration requirement with no remission longer than 2 months
DSM-5 requires symptoms present for at least 2 years with no symptom-free period exceeding 2 months.
Question 3: Which of the following best distinguishes 'double depression' from uncomplicated PDD?
- Double depression involves two simultaneous anxiety disorders
- A major depressive episode is superimposed on the chronic dysthymic baseline (Correct answer)
- The patient alternates between depression and hypomania
- Two different clinicians diagnose depression independently
Correct answer: A major depressive episode is superimposed on the chronic dysthymic baseline
Double depression describes the co-occurrence of a major depressive episode layered on top of the persistent low mood of PDD.
Question 4: For children and adolescents, how does the DSM-5 duration requirement for PDD differ from adults?
- 6 months instead of 2 years
- 1 year instead of 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years instead of 2 years
- The requirement is the same at 2 years
Correct answer: 1 year instead of 2 years
In children and adolescents, the minimum duration is 1 year rather than the 2 years required for adults.
Question 5: A patient reports that their depressed mood is worse in the evenings and they overeat and oversleep. Which PDD specifier best applies?
- With melancholic features
- With atypical features (Correct answer)
- With anxious distress
- With peripartum onset
Correct answer: With atypical features
Atypical features include mood reactivity, hypersomnia, hyperphagia, leaden paralysis, and rejection sensitivity.
Question 6: Which neurotransmitter system is most consistently implicated in the pathophysiology of Persistent Depressive Disorder?
- Dopaminergic system
- Serotonergic system (Correct answer)
- Cholinergic system
- GABAergic system
Correct answer: Serotonergic system
Serotonergic dysregulation is the most consistently identified neurochemical finding in chronic depressive conditions including PDD.
Question 7: According to DSM-5, which condition must be ruled out before diagnosing PDD?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Cyclothymic Disorder (Correct answer)
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Somatic Symptom Disorder
Correct answer: Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic Disorder, which involves chronic fluctuating hypomanic and depressive symptoms, must be excluded before assigning a PDD diagnosis.
Persistent Depressive Disorder Persistent Depressive Disorder MCQ 2
Which specifier is used when a patient with Persistent Depressive Disorder experiences a major depressive episode superimposed on their chronic low mood?