NU664C TEST BANK 2026 UPDATED
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What characterizes Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)?
Answer: Chronic, low-grade depression lasting at least 2 years (or 1 year
in children) with symptoms like low self-esteem, poor concentration,
fatigue, and hopelessness.
⩥ How do the symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder compare to
Major Depression? Answer: Symptoms are less severe than major
depression but longer-lasting.
⩥ What is a common treatment for Persistent Depressive Disorder?
Answer: SSRIs and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
⩥ What are the key features of Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Profound loss of pleasure (anhedonia), lack of mood reactivity, early
morning awakening, weight loss, and psychomotor changes.
⩥ Who is more likely to experience Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Common in older adults and hospitalized patients.
⩥ What treatments are effective for Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Medications and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
,⩥ What distinguishes Atypical Depression from other types? Answer:
Mood can improve in response to positive events, with features like
increased appetite, weight gain, excessive sleep, and heavy limbs.
⩥ What demographic is more commonly affected by Atypical
Depression? Answer: Younger individuals and those with bipolar
disorder.
⩥ What is the treatment for Atypical Depression? Answer: SSRIs or
MAOIs.
⩥ What defines Psychotic Depression? Answer: Severe depression with
delusions or hallucinations, which can be mood-congruent or mood-
incongruent.
⩥ What is the treatment approach for Psychotic Depression? Answer:
Combined treatment with antidepressants and antipsychotics or ECT.
⩥ What is Postpartum Depression and when does it onset? Answer:
Onset during pregnancy or within four weeks after delivery,
characterized by sadness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty bonding with
the baby.
,⩥ How does Postpartum Depression differ from 'baby blues'? Answer: It
is more intense and long-lasting than 'baby blues'.
⩥ What are the symptoms of Childhood Depression? Answer:
Irritability, academic decline, withdrawal from peers, somatic
complaints, and low self-esteem.
⩥ What are common risk factors for Childhood Depression? Answer:
Family history and environmental stressors.
⩥ What neurobiological factors are involved in depression? Answer:
Dysregulation of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine; structural
brain changes include decreased hippocampal volume and hypoactivity
in the prefrontal cortex.
⩥ What genetic factor is associated with depression? Answer: The
serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR).
⩥ What are the side effects of SSRIs? Answer: GI upset, sexual
dysfunction, insomnia.
⩥ What distinguishes SNRIs from SSRIs? Answer: SNRIs inhibit
serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and may cause hypertension.
, ⩥ What are examples of atypical antidepressants? Answer: Bupropion
(activating, seizure risk) and mirtazapine (sedating, weight gain).
⩥ What treatments are considered for Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Answer: Augmentation with lithium, atypical antipsychotics, or T3; also
consider TMS or ECT.
⩥ What is ECT and when is it effective? Answer: Effective in severe or
treatment-resistant depression, catatonia, or suicidal ideation; may
increase monoamine availability and neuroplasticity.
⩥ What are the key differences between Bipolar Depression and Major
Depressive Disorder (MDD)? Answer: Bipolar depression often presents
with hypersomnia, hyperphagia, psychomotor retardation, and a family
history of bipolar disorder; antidepressant monotherapy may trigger
mania.
⩥ How does normal grief differ from Major Depressive Disorder?
Answer: Normal grief includes emotional pain with preserved self-
esteem, while MDD includes pervasive anhedonia, guilt, feelings of
worthlessness, and suicidal ideation unrelated to the deceased.
⩥ What is the difference between Persistent Depressive Disorder and
Major Depressive Disorder? Answer: Dysthymia involves chronic low
mood for 2+ years with intermittent symptoms, while MDD involves
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ What characterizes Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)?
Answer: Chronic, low-grade depression lasting at least 2 years (or 1 year
in children) with symptoms like low self-esteem, poor concentration,
fatigue, and hopelessness.
⩥ How do the symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder compare to
Major Depression? Answer: Symptoms are less severe than major
depression but longer-lasting.
⩥ What is a common treatment for Persistent Depressive Disorder?
Answer: SSRIs and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
⩥ What are the key features of Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Profound loss of pleasure (anhedonia), lack of mood reactivity, early
morning awakening, weight loss, and psychomotor changes.
⩥ Who is more likely to experience Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Common in older adults and hospitalized patients.
⩥ What treatments are effective for Melancholic Depression? Answer:
Medications and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
,⩥ What distinguishes Atypical Depression from other types? Answer:
Mood can improve in response to positive events, with features like
increased appetite, weight gain, excessive sleep, and heavy limbs.
⩥ What demographic is more commonly affected by Atypical
Depression? Answer: Younger individuals and those with bipolar
disorder.
⩥ What is the treatment for Atypical Depression? Answer: SSRIs or
MAOIs.
⩥ What defines Psychotic Depression? Answer: Severe depression with
delusions or hallucinations, which can be mood-congruent or mood-
incongruent.
⩥ What is the treatment approach for Psychotic Depression? Answer:
Combined treatment with antidepressants and antipsychotics or ECT.
⩥ What is Postpartum Depression and when does it onset? Answer:
Onset during pregnancy or within four weeks after delivery,
characterized by sadness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty bonding with
the baby.
,⩥ How does Postpartum Depression differ from 'baby blues'? Answer: It
is more intense and long-lasting than 'baby blues'.
⩥ What are the symptoms of Childhood Depression? Answer:
Irritability, academic decline, withdrawal from peers, somatic
complaints, and low self-esteem.
⩥ What are common risk factors for Childhood Depression? Answer:
Family history and environmental stressors.
⩥ What neurobiological factors are involved in depression? Answer:
Dysregulation of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine; structural
brain changes include decreased hippocampal volume and hypoactivity
in the prefrontal cortex.
⩥ What genetic factor is associated with depression? Answer: The
serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR).
⩥ What are the side effects of SSRIs? Answer: GI upset, sexual
dysfunction, insomnia.
⩥ What distinguishes SNRIs from SSRIs? Answer: SNRIs inhibit
serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and may cause hypertension.
, ⩥ What are examples of atypical antidepressants? Answer: Bupropion
(activating, seizure risk) and mirtazapine (sedating, weight gain).
⩥ What treatments are considered for Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Answer: Augmentation with lithium, atypical antipsychotics, or T3; also
consider TMS or ECT.
⩥ What is ECT and when is it effective? Answer: Effective in severe or
treatment-resistant depression, catatonia, or suicidal ideation; may
increase monoamine availability and neuroplasticity.
⩥ What are the key differences between Bipolar Depression and Major
Depressive Disorder (MDD)? Answer: Bipolar depression often presents
with hypersomnia, hyperphagia, psychomotor retardation, and a family
history of bipolar disorder; antidepressant monotherapy may trigger
mania.
⩥ How does normal grief differ from Major Depressive Disorder?
Answer: Normal grief includes emotional pain with preserved self-
esteem, while MDD includes pervasive anhedonia, guilt, feelings of
worthlessness, and suicidal ideation unrelated to the deceased.
⩥ What is the difference between Persistent Depressive Disorder and
Major Depressive Disorder? Answer: Dysthymia involves chronic low
mood for 2+ years with intermittent symptoms, while MDD involves
