CMN 552 Exam Study Guide:
Questions and Verified
Answers. Latest 2026 Update
What two neurotransmitters are most implicated in the pathophysiology of
mood disorders? - Ans✔✔-norepinephrine and serotonin
How are dopamine levels affected in depression and mania? - Ans✔✔-
Dopamine activity may be reduced in depression and increased in mania
How does depression affect sleep neurophysiology? - Ans✔✔-Loss of deep
(slow-wave) sleep
Increase in nocturnal arousal.
The latter is reflected by four types of disturbance: (1) an increase in nocturnal
awakenings, (2) a reduction in total sleep time, (3) increased phasic rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep, and (4) increased core body temperature. T
What is the most common abnormality found in structural and functional brain
imaging in depressive disorders? - Ans✔✔-Increased frequency of abnormal
hyperintensities in subcortical regions, such as periventricular regions, the
basal ganglia, and the thalamus
,What cognitive distortions are commonly seen in depressed patients? -
Ans✔✔-(1) views about the self —a negative self-precept, (2) about the
environment—a tendency to experience the world as hostile and demanding,
and (3) about the future—the expectation of suffering and failure
What is learned helplessness? - Ans✔✔-the hopelessness and passive
resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive
events
What "specifiers" are used to describe patients with various mood disorders? -
Ans✔✔-Table 8.1-7
What factors are associated with a poor prognosis for patients with mood
disorders? - Ans✔✔-MDD: The percentage of patients recovering after
repeated hospitalization decreases with passing time. Generally, as a patient
experiences more and more depressive episodes, the time between the
episodes decreases, and the severity of each episode increases.
Bipolar I: Have a poorer prognosis than do patients with major depressive
disorder. About 40 to 50 percent of patients with bipolar I disorder may have a
second manic episode within 2 years of the first episode. poor occupational
status, alcohol dependence, psychotic features, depressive features,
interepisode depressive features, and male gender were all factors that
contributed a poor prognosis. Short duration of manic episodes, advanced age
of onset, few suicidal thoughts, and few coexisting psychiatric or medical
problems predict a better outcome.
Bipolar II: The course and prognosis of bipolar II disorder indicate that the
diagnosis is stable because there is a high likelihood that patients with bipolar II
,disorder will have the same diagnosis up to 5 years later. Bipolar II disorder is a
chronic disease that warrants long-term treatment strategies.
What is endogenous depression? - Ans✔✔-depression with no apparent cause
What characteristics would the clinician see if a patient presented with atypical
features in a depressed patient? - Ans✔✔-Catatonic features
Postpartum onset
Rapid cycling
Seasonal features
Significant weight gain
Hypersomnia
Leaden paralysis
What diagnostic criteria are required for a patient to receive a diagnosis of
Major Depressive Disorder? - Ans✔✔-*Five (or more) of the following
symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a
change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1)
depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Depressed most of the day, nearly every day as indicated by subjective report
(e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others (e.g., appears
tearful)
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of
the day, nearly every day (as indicated by subjective account or observation)
, Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., change of more
than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly
every day
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others,
not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be
delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being
sick).
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
(either by subjective account or as observed by others)
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation
without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing
suicide
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or to
another medical condition.
Questions and Verified
Answers. Latest 2026 Update
What two neurotransmitters are most implicated in the pathophysiology of
mood disorders? - Ans✔✔-norepinephrine and serotonin
How are dopamine levels affected in depression and mania? - Ans✔✔-
Dopamine activity may be reduced in depression and increased in mania
How does depression affect sleep neurophysiology? - Ans✔✔-Loss of deep
(slow-wave) sleep
Increase in nocturnal arousal.
The latter is reflected by four types of disturbance: (1) an increase in nocturnal
awakenings, (2) a reduction in total sleep time, (3) increased phasic rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep, and (4) increased core body temperature. T
What is the most common abnormality found in structural and functional brain
imaging in depressive disorders? - Ans✔✔-Increased frequency of abnormal
hyperintensities in subcortical regions, such as periventricular regions, the
basal ganglia, and the thalamus
,What cognitive distortions are commonly seen in depressed patients? -
Ans✔✔-(1) views about the self —a negative self-precept, (2) about the
environment—a tendency to experience the world as hostile and demanding,
and (3) about the future—the expectation of suffering and failure
What is learned helplessness? - Ans✔✔-the hopelessness and passive
resignation an animal or human learns when unable to avoid repeated aversive
events
What "specifiers" are used to describe patients with various mood disorders? -
Ans✔✔-Table 8.1-7
What factors are associated with a poor prognosis for patients with mood
disorders? - Ans✔✔-MDD: The percentage of patients recovering after
repeated hospitalization decreases with passing time. Generally, as a patient
experiences more and more depressive episodes, the time between the
episodes decreases, and the severity of each episode increases.
Bipolar I: Have a poorer prognosis than do patients with major depressive
disorder. About 40 to 50 percent of patients with bipolar I disorder may have a
second manic episode within 2 years of the first episode. poor occupational
status, alcohol dependence, psychotic features, depressive features,
interepisode depressive features, and male gender were all factors that
contributed a poor prognosis. Short duration of manic episodes, advanced age
of onset, few suicidal thoughts, and few coexisting psychiatric or medical
problems predict a better outcome.
Bipolar II: The course and prognosis of bipolar II disorder indicate that the
diagnosis is stable because there is a high likelihood that patients with bipolar II
,disorder will have the same diagnosis up to 5 years later. Bipolar II disorder is a
chronic disease that warrants long-term treatment strategies.
What is endogenous depression? - Ans✔✔-depression with no apparent cause
What characteristics would the clinician see if a patient presented with atypical
features in a depressed patient? - Ans✔✔-Catatonic features
Postpartum onset
Rapid cycling
Seasonal features
Significant weight gain
Hypersomnia
Leaden paralysis
What diagnostic criteria are required for a patient to receive a diagnosis of
Major Depressive Disorder? - Ans✔✔-*Five (or more) of the following
symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a
change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1)
depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Depressed most of the day, nearly every day as indicated by subjective report
(e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others (e.g., appears
tearful)
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of
the day, nearly every day (as indicated by subjective account or observation)
, Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., change of more
than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly
every day
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others,
not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be
delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being
sick).
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
(either by subjective account or as observed by others)
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation
without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing
suicide
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or to
another medical condition.
