Psychiatric Mental Health Board Certification Practice Exam

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has several specifiers that help to clarify the nature of the depressive episode. Each specifier denotes particular features that can significantly influence treatment options and prognosis.

MDD with anxious distress includes symptoms of anxiety that occur alongside depression, reflecting the common co-occurrence of these conditions. Similarly, MDD with psychotic features indicates the presence of delusions or hallucinations during a major depressive episode, which is a critical aspect of diagnosis that alters treatment considerations.

MDD with peripartum onset refers to depressive symptoms that occur during pregnancy or in the weeks following delivery, recognizing the unique biological and psychological challenges that accompany the perinatal period.

In contrast, the concept of "MDD with manic features" is not recognized in established psychiatric guidelines. Manic features are characteristic of bipolar disorder rather than major depressive disorder. This distinction is essential for accurate diagnosis, as treatments for bipolar disorder differ significantly from those for MDD. Therefore, the answer indicating that MDD with manic features is not a valid type of major depressive disorder correctly reflects the classification criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).