Q.1 Which of the following is a core symptom of major depressive disorder?
Euphoria
Hallucinations
Depressed mood
Mania
Explanation - Major depressive disorder is primarily characterized by persistent low mood or loss of interest in activities.
Correct answer is: Depressed mood
Q.2 Anhedonia refers to:
Excessive sleep
Loss of pleasure in activities
Fear of crowds
Rapid speech
Explanation - Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure, a hallmark symptom of depressive disorders.
Correct answer is: Loss of pleasure in activities
Q.3 Which neurotransmitter is most strongly associated with depression?
Dopamine
Serotonin
Acetylcholine
GABA
Explanation - Serotonin dysregulation is closely linked with depressive symptoms.
Correct answer is: Serotonin
Q.4 DSM-5 requires symptoms to be present for how long before diagnosing major depressive disorder?
1 week
2 weeks
1 month
6 months
Explanation - DSM-5 criteria specify that depressive symptoms must last at least 2 weeks.
Correct answer is: 2 weeks
Q.5 Which of the following is NOT a typical symptom of depression?
Weight changes
Insomnia
Grandiosity
Fatigue
Explanation - Grandiosity is characteristic of mania, not depression.
Correct answer is: Grandiosity
Q.6 Which type of depression occurs seasonally, often in winter months?
Dysthymia
Cyclothymia
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Atypical Depression
Explanation - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is linked with reduced daylight exposure in winter.
Correct answer is: Seasonal Affective Disorder
Q.7 Persistent depressive disorder is also known as:
Dysthymia
Mania
Cyclothymia
Psychosis
Explanation - Dysthymia is a chronic form of depression lasting at least 2 years.
Correct answer is: Dysthymia
Q.8 Which of the following antidepressants is an SSRI?
Fluoxetine
Amitriptyline
Venlafaxine
Lithium
Explanation - Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Correct answer is: Fluoxetine
Q.9 In depression, early morning awakening is an example of:
Psychotic feature
Mood congruent symptom
Diurnal variation
Manic symptom
Explanation - Depression often shows diurnal variation with worse symptoms in the morning.
Correct answer is: Diurnal variation
Q.10 Which of the following is a biological treatment for severe depression?
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Psychoanalysis
Cognitive therapy
Support groups
Explanation - ECT is used for severe, treatment-resistant depression, especially with suicidal risk.
Correct answer is: Electroconvulsive Therapy
Q.11 Which cognitive distortion is common in depression?
All-or-nothing thinking
Flight of ideas
Euphoria
Grandiosity
Explanation - Cognitive distortions like all-or-nothing thinking contribute to depressive thoughts.
Correct answer is: All-or-nothing thinking
Q.12 Which of the following is an atypical feature of depression?
Hypersomnia
Insomnia
Early morning awakening
Psychomotor retardation
Explanation - Atypical depression often includes increased sleep and appetite.
Correct answer is: Hypersomnia
Q.13 A 45-year-old with depression also experiences delusions of guilt. This is:
Neurotic depression
Psychotic depression
Dysthymia
Atypical depression
Explanation - Psychotic depression involves mood-congruent delusions such as guilt or worthlessness.
Correct answer is: Psychotic depression
Q.14 Which is the first-line psychotherapy for depression?
Electroconvulsive therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Psychoanalysis
Group hypnosis
Explanation - CBT is evidence-based and effective in treating depression.
Correct answer is: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Q.15 Which sleep pattern is most characteristic of major depression?
Difficulty initiating sleep
Night terrors
Sleepwalking
Increased REM latency
Explanation - Insomnia, especially difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, is common in depression.
Correct answer is: Difficulty initiating sleep
Q.16 Which endocrine disorder can mimic depression?
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Cushing’s syndrome
Diabetes mellitus
Explanation - Hypothyroidism often presents with low mood, fatigue, and cognitive slowing resembling depression.
Correct answer is: Hypothyroidism
Q.17 Which gender is more commonly affected by depression?
Males
Females
Both equally
Children only
Explanation - Epidemiological studies show that depression is more common in females.
Correct answer is: Females
Q.18 A depression lasting more than 2 years is termed:
Bipolar disorder
Dysthymia
Cyclothymia
Adjustment disorder
Explanation - Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is chronic depression lasting at least 2 years.
Correct answer is: Dysthymia
Q.19 Which brain region is most implicated in depression?
Amygdala
Prefrontal cortex
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Explanation - Structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex are common in depression.
Correct answer is: Prefrontal cortex
Q.20 Which of the following is NOT an SSRI?
Fluoxetine
Sertraline
Paroxetine
Imipramine
Explanation - Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant, not an SSRI.
Correct answer is: Imipramine
Q.21 The Beck Depression Inventory is used for:
Measuring anxiety
Measuring depression severity
Diagnosing psychosis
Screening for mania
Explanation - The Beck Depression Inventory is a self-report questionnaire for depression severity.
Correct answer is: Measuring depression severity
Q.22 Which symptom is required for a major depressive episode diagnosis?
Insomnia
Depressed mood or anhedonia
Weight loss
Agitation
Explanation - DSM-5 requires at least depressed mood or loss of interest as a core symptom.
Correct answer is: Depressed mood or anhedonia
Q.23 Which of the following is considered a somatic symptom of depression?
Hopelessness
Worthlessness
Fatigue
Suicidal thoughts
Explanation - Fatigue is a physical, somatic symptom commonly present in depression.
Correct answer is: Fatigue
Q.24 Which medication is considered first-line for depression?
Fluoxetine
Chlorpromazine
Lithium
Diazepam
Explanation - SSRIs like Fluoxetine are first-line pharmacological treatments for depression.
Correct answer is: Fluoxetine
Q.25 Which of the following is a risk factor for depression?
Family history
High socioeconomic status
Regular exercise
Strong social support
Explanation - Genetic predisposition and family history are major risk factors for depression.
Correct answer is: Family history