In diagnosing major depressive disorder, depressed mood or anhedonia must be present with how many additional symptoms?

In diagnosing major depressive disorder, depressed mood or anhedonia must be present with how many additional symptoms?

• A. More than seven
• B. More than five
• C. Two or more
• D. Exactly four

Answer: (B)

In major depressive disorder, you need at least five symptoms present during the same two-week period, representing a change from previous functioning, with at least one of those symptoms being depressed mood or anhedonia. If depressed mood or anhedonia is present, there must be four additional symptoms to reach the minimum total of five. So the number of additional symptoms required is four (giving a total of five or more). Longer lists are possible, but four additional symptoms is the minimum beyond the core mood symptom.

In major depressive disorder, you need at least five symptoms present during the same two-week period, representing a change from previous functioning, with at least one of those symptoms being depressed mood or anhedonia. If depressed mood or anhedonia is present, there must be four additional symptoms to reach the minimum total of five. So the number of additional symptoms required is four (giving a total of five or more). Longer lists are possible, but four additional symptoms is the minimum beyond the core mood symptom.