Depression & Mood Disorders Exam – Practice
Questions (1-150)
1. A patient reports feeling sad most of the day, nearly every day, for
the past 3 weeks, along with loss of interest in previously enjoyed
activities. Which disorder is most consistent with this
presentation?
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Bipolar I disorder
• Cyclothymic disorder
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is characterized by a persistent
depressed mood or anhedonia lasting at least 2 weeks with associated
symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite.
2. Which of the following symptoms is most characteristic of bipolar
mania?
• Depressed mood
• Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
• Psychomotor retardation
• Anhedonia
Answer: Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
Rationale: Mania is marked by elevated or irritable mood, increased
activity or energy, and decreased need for sleep.
, 3. A patient taking an SSRI reports nausea, headache, and insomnia.
These are likely:
• Severe adverse reactions requiring hospitalization
• Common early side effects of SSRIs
• Signs of serotonin syndrome
• Indications to switch to an MAOI
Answer: Common early side effects of SSRIs
Rationale: SSRIs often cause transient side effects such as nausea,
headache, and insomnia, which usually resolve within a few weeks.
4. Which neurotransmitter is most strongly associated with mood
regulation and implicated in depression?
• Acetylcholine
• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• GABA
Answer: Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin plays a critical role in mood, anxiety, and sleep
regulation, and its dysregulation is linked to depressive disorders.
5. A patient presents with sad mood, low energy, poor
concentration, and insomnia for 2 years. The most likely diagnosis
is:
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
• Cyclothymic disorder
, • Adjustment disorder
Answer: Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Rationale: Persistent depressive disorder involves a chronic, less severe
depressed mood lasting at least 2 years in adults.
6. Which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for depression
in adults?
• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• Glasgow Coma Scale
Answer: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Rationale: The BDI is a validated self-report questionnaire widely used
to assess depressive symptoms.
7. A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed lithium. The nurse
knows that which of the following must be monitored regularly?
• Serum sodium and lithium levels
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit
• Liver function tests only
• Platelet count
Answer: Serum sodium and lithium levels
Rationale: Lithium requires regular monitoring of serum levels and renal
function. Sodium levels influence lithium excretion.
8. Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of major depressive
disorder in children and adolescents?
• Increased risk-taking behaviors
, • Irritability rather than sadness
• Hallucinations
• Hyperactivity
Answer: Irritability rather than sadness
Rationale: Children with depression often present with irritability, social
withdrawal, and somatic complaints.
9. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most commonly indicated for:
• Mild situational depression
• Treatment-resistant depression or severe psychotic depression
• Bipolar disorder in remission
• Adjustment disorder
Answer: Treatment-resistant depression or severe psychotic
depression
Rationale: ECT is effective for severe depression, especially when
medications fail or rapid response is needed.
10. A patient with depression demonstrates psychomotor
retardation and hypersomnia. This is consistent with:
• Atypical depression
• Melancholic depression
• Bipolar II disorder
• Cyclothymia
Answer: Atypical depression
Rationale: Atypical depression is characterized by mood reactivity,
hypersomnia, increased appetite, and leaden paralysis.
Questions (1-150)
1. A patient reports feeling sad most of the day, nearly every day, for
the past 3 weeks, along with loss of interest in previously enjoyed
activities. Which disorder is most consistent with this
presentation?
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder
• Bipolar I disorder
• Cyclothymic disorder
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is characterized by a persistent
depressed mood or anhedonia lasting at least 2 weeks with associated
symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite.
2. Which of the following symptoms is most characteristic of bipolar
mania?
• Depressed mood
• Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
• Psychomotor retardation
• Anhedonia
Answer: Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
Rationale: Mania is marked by elevated or irritable mood, increased
activity or energy, and decreased need for sleep.
, 3. A patient taking an SSRI reports nausea, headache, and insomnia.
These are likely:
• Severe adverse reactions requiring hospitalization
• Common early side effects of SSRIs
• Signs of serotonin syndrome
• Indications to switch to an MAOI
Answer: Common early side effects of SSRIs
Rationale: SSRIs often cause transient side effects such as nausea,
headache, and insomnia, which usually resolve within a few weeks.
4. Which neurotransmitter is most strongly associated with mood
regulation and implicated in depression?
• Acetylcholine
• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• GABA
Answer: Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin plays a critical role in mood, anxiety, and sleep
regulation, and its dysregulation is linked to depressive disorders.
5. A patient presents with sad mood, low energy, poor
concentration, and insomnia for 2 years. The most likely diagnosis
is:
• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
• Cyclothymic disorder
, • Adjustment disorder
Answer: Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
Rationale: Persistent depressive disorder involves a chronic, less severe
depressed mood lasting at least 2 years in adults.
6. Which assessment tool is commonly used to screen for depression
in adults?
• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• Glasgow Coma Scale
Answer: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Rationale: The BDI is a validated self-report questionnaire widely used
to assess depressive symptoms.
7. A patient with bipolar disorder is prescribed lithium. The nurse
knows that which of the following must be monitored regularly?
• Serum sodium and lithium levels
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit
• Liver function tests only
• Platelet count
Answer: Serum sodium and lithium levels
Rationale: Lithium requires regular monitoring of serum levels and renal
function. Sodium levels influence lithium excretion.
8. Which of the following is a hallmark symptom of major depressive
disorder in children and adolescents?
• Increased risk-taking behaviors
, • Irritability rather than sadness
• Hallucinations
• Hyperactivity
Answer: Irritability rather than sadness
Rationale: Children with depression often present with irritability, social
withdrawal, and somatic complaints.
9. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is most commonly indicated for:
• Mild situational depression
• Treatment-resistant depression or severe psychotic depression
• Bipolar disorder in remission
• Adjustment disorder
Answer: Treatment-resistant depression or severe psychotic
depression
Rationale: ECT is effective for severe depression, especially when
medications fail or rapid response is needed.
10. A patient with depression demonstrates psychomotor
retardation and hypersomnia. This is consistent with:
• Atypical depression
• Melancholic depression
• Bipolar II disorder
• Cyclothymia
Answer: Atypical depression
Rationale: Atypical depression is characterized by mood reactivity,
hypersomnia, increased appetite, and leaden paralysis.
