Persistent Depressive Disorder Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4

Question 1

Which neurotransmitter system has the strongest evidence base from PDD research as a primary target for pharmacotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Serotonergic system, with secondary involvement of norepinephrine and dopamine

Answer

Research most consistently implicates the serotonergic system in PDD, though evidence increasingly supports multi-neurotransmitter involvement including norepinephrine and dopamine.

Question 2

Evidence-based practice guidelines from APA recommend which assessment tool as part of a comprehensive PDD evaluation?

Accepted Answer

Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) to confirm diagnosis and rule out bipolar spectrum

Answer

APA guidelines recommend structured clinical interviews like the SCID to reliably diagnose PDD and systematically rule out bipolar spectrum disorders, which significantly affect treatment.

Question 3

Research comparing SSRIs to SNRIs for PDD treatment shows which pattern in head-to-head trials?

Accepted Answer

Comparable efficacy with individual differences determining which class works best for a given patient

Answer

Head-to-head trials show comparable overall efficacy between SSRIs and SNRIs for PDD, supporting individualized treatment selection based on patient factors and tolerability.

Question 4

A research team studying PDD biomarkers would most likely find which inflammatory marker elevated compared to healthy controls?

Accepted Answer

C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)

Answer

Research consistently finds elevated CRP and IL-6 in chronic depression including PDD, supporting the inflammatory hypothesis of depressive disorder chronicity.

Question 5

Studies examining predictors of non-response to antidepressants in PDD patients identify which factor as most strongly associated with poor medication response?

Accepted Answer

Comorbid personality disorder, particularly Cluster C personality disorders

Answer

Research consistently identifies comorbid personality disorders, especially Cluster C, as among the strongest predictors of antidepressant non-response in PDD.

Persistent Depressive Disorder Practice Test

Persistent Depressive Disorder Practice Test

Persistent Depressive Disorder Research & Evidence-Based Practice 4