Which of the following is a symptom of depression?

Appeared in: BSF Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a constellation of symptoms, not just one.
The options 'Worthlessness,' 'Hopelessness,' and 'Depressive mood' are all recognized as core diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.
Worthlessness refers to feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.
Hopelessness is a key cognitive feature involving a negative outlook on the future.
A depressive mood is the primary affective symptom, involving persistent sadness or emptiness.
Since all individual options are correct symptoms, the most comprehensive and accurate answer is 'All of these'.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: This option is a correct symptom of depression, but it is not the only one listed. Therefore, selecting it alone is incomplete.
Option B: This option is a correct symptom of depression, but it is not the only one listed. Therefore, selecting it alone is incomplete.
Option C: This option is a correct symptom of depression, but it is not the only one listed. Therefore, selecting it alone is incomplete.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Symptoms of Depression helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in identifying depression by observing patient behavior and listening to their complaints. Using screening tools like the PHQ-2 or PHQ-9 is a standard practice.
A key nursing responsibility is suicide risk assessment. If a patient expresses feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, the nurse must directly ask about suicidal thoughts, plans, and intent to ensure patient safety.
What if? If a patient reports a depressed mood and loss of interest but denies feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, they may still meet the criteria for depression. The diagnosis requires at least five symptoms from the SIGECAPS list, but worthlessness is not mandatory.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question carefully: 'Which of the following is a symptom of depression?'. This is a factual recall question.
Next, evaluate each option individually based on your knowledge of mental health disorders.
Recognize that 'Worthlessness' is a cognitive symptom of depression.
Recognize that 'Hopelessness' is another cognitive symptom, strongly linked to suicide risk.
Recognize that 'Depressive mood' is the core affective symptom.
When you identify that multiple options (A, B, and C) are all correct, look for an 'All of the above' or 'All of these' option. In this case, Option D is the most complete and therefore the best answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Symptoms of Depression
Stem keywords: symptom, depression
Lead-in keywords: Which

Question ID

Q0tJTYMGY9Bug1nOK9iMxe

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1213-1215, 1215-1217

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 5402-5404

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