An affective disorder among the following is

Appeared in: AIIMS BHOPAL NO- 2018( Shift-2nd)

Explanation

Affective disorders, also known as mood disorders, are primarily characterized by a disturbance in a person's emotional state or mood.
Depression is a primary example of an affective disorder, defined by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), and changes in energy levels.
The core feature of depression is a pathological mood state, which aligns directly with the definition of an affective disorder.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Alzheimer's is a neurocognitive disorder (dementia), characterized by progressive cognitive decline, primarily affecting memory and executive function.
Option C: Phobia is classified as an anxiety disorder. Its main feature is an excessive and irrational fear of a specific object or situation, not a primary mood disturbance.
Option D: Delirium is an acute neurocognitive disorder. It is characterized by a rapid onset of confusion, disorientation, and fluctuating levels of consciousness, often due to an underlying medical condition.

Related Visual

A chart classifying common psychiatric disorders into categories like Affective Mood Disorders Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety Disorders Phobia, Panic Disorder, and Neurocogn...

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of mental health disorders, specifically identifying affective disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Correctly classifying a patient's disorder is the first step in determining the appropriate treatment plan, including pharmacotherapy (e.g., antidepressants vs. anxiolytics) and psychotherapy.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between these conditions to monitor for relevant symptoms, manage side effects of specific medications, and provide appropriate patient education.
What if? If a patient with Alzheimer's disease presents with a low mood, the nurse's priority is to assess if this is a symptom of the dementia itself or a comorbid major depressive episode, as the treatment approach would differ significantly.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'affective disorder'.
Recall the definition of an affective disorder, which is a synonym for a mood disorder, where the primary problem is a disturbance in mood.
Systematically evaluate each option based on its primary psychiatric classification.
Recognize that Depression is a primary mood disorder.
Identify Alzheimer's and Delirium as neurocognitive disorders, where cognitive function is the primary issue.
Classify Phobia as an anxiety disorder, where fear and anxiety are the core symptoms.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of mental health disorders, specifically identifying affective disorders.
Stem keywords: affective disorder
Lead-in keywords: is

Question ID

QxAaCMQ34_4DK8YCEuPx99

Reference Book

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 269-271

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 13421-13423

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