Persistent Depressive Disorder Professional Standards & Competencies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under DSM-5 criteria, what is the minimum duration of depressed mood required for a diagnosis of Persistent Depressive Disorder in adults?
- 6 months
- 1 year
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 3 years
Correct answer: 2 years
DSM-5 requires depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not, for at least 2 years in adults.
Question 2: A clinician discovers a client with PDD is also meeting criteria for a major depressive episode. According to DSM-5, the appropriate diagnosis is:
- PDD only, as it subsumes the MDE
- MDD only, as it supersedes PDD
- Both PDD and MDD (double depression) (Correct answer)
- Unspecified depressive disorder
Correct answer: Both PDD and MDD (double depression)
DSM-5 allows concurrent diagnosis of PDD and MDD, a presentation commonly referred to as 'double depression.'
Question 3: Which standardized tool is most commonly recommended for ongoing symptom monitoring in clients with Persistent Depressive Disorder?
- Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (Correct answer)
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID)
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Correct answer: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
The PHQ-9 is a validated, brief self-report measure widely recommended for tracking depressive symptom severity over time.
Question 4: What professional standard requires a clinician to inform a client about the nature of PDD, treatment options, and expected outcomes before beginning treatment?
- Duty to warn
- Mandatory reporting
- Informed consent (Correct answer)
- Competency evaluation
Correct answer: Informed consent
Informed consent requires that clients receive sufficient information to make autonomous decisions about their care.
Question 5: A social worker treating a client with PDD realizes the case complexity exceeds their training. The most professionally appropriate action is to:
- Continue treatment while privately researching PDD
- Terminate services and refer immediately
- Seek supervision or consultation before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Refer only if the client requests a change
Correct answer: Seek supervision or consultation before proceeding
Ethical codes across disciplines require practitioners to seek supervision or consultation when a case exceeds their current competence.
Question 6: According to NASW ethical standards, when treating a client with PDD who discloses active suicidal ideation, the clinician must prioritize:
- Confidentiality above all else
- Client self-determination exclusively
- Client safety, which may override confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Documentation before any intervention
Correct answer: Client safety, which may override confidentiality
NASW standards require prioritizing client safety; imminent risk can justify breaching confidentiality to prevent harm.
Question 7: Which treatment modality has the strongest evidence base for Persistent Depressive Disorder and is specifically designed for chronically depressed patients?
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) (Correct answer)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Correct answer: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP)
CBASP was developed specifically for chronic depression and has demonstrated strong efficacy in multiple randomized controlled trials.
Persistent Depressive Disorder Professional Standards & Competencies 2
Under DSM-5 criteria, what is the minimum duration of depressed mood required for a diagnosis of Persistent Depressive Disorder in adults?