PSY 240 MAIN EXAMINATION MANUAL 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode? - ✔✔Diagnosis requires 5 or
more symptoms for at least 2 weeks, including depressed mood or loss of
interest/pleasure.
✔✔What are common symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Depressed mood,
loss of interest, weight/appetite change, insomnia/hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of
worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, recurrent thoughts of death.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔20%.
✔✔What is the yearly prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder in the U.S.? - ✔✔8%.
✔✔How does gender affect the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Women
are twice as likely as men to experience it.
✔✔What is Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)? - ✔✔Chronic, less severe
depression lasting 2 years or longer.
✔✔What are the diagnostic criteria for Persistent Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Depressed
mood for most of the day, occurring more days than not, and not symptom-free for more
than 2 months at a time.
✔✔What is the difference between Major Depression and Persistent Depression? -
✔✔Major Depression lasts 2+ weeks with 5+ symptoms; Persistent Depression lasts 2+
years with 3+ symptoms.
✔✔What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? - ✔✔A specifier of Major Depressive Disorder
that occurs at a specific time of year, usually fall/winter.
✔✔What is Postpartum Depression? - ✔✔Occurs after childbirth and includes extreme
sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
✔✔What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)? - ✔✔Occurs during the week
before menstruation and requires 5 symptoms including at least one mood symptom.
✔✔What characterizes Bipolar Disorders? - ✔✔Mood disorder involving episodes of
depression and mania.
✔✔What are the criteria for a Manic Episode? - ✔✔Duration of at least 1 week with
symptoms like elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, and increased goal-directed
activity.
, ✔✔What is the difference between Mania and Hypomania? - ✔✔Mania lasts 1+ week
with severe impairment; Hypomania lasts 4-7 days with mild impairment.
✔✔What are the characteristics of Cyclothymic Disorder? - ✔✔Chronic mood instability
with numerous hypomanic and depressive symptoms lasting 2+ years.
✔✔What is the Kindling Effect in Bipolar Disorder? - ✔✔Episodes of mania or
depression may become easier to trigger over time.
✔✔What are common treatments for Bipolar Disorder? - ✔✔Medication (lithium,
antipsychotics) and psychotherapy focusing on medication adherence and social skills.
✔✔What does the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Depression suggest? - ✔✔Depression
results from negative thinking patterns and reduced positive reinforcement.
✔✔What is the Cognitive Triad? - ✔✔Three negative beliefs: negative view of self,
world, and future.
✔✔What is Rumination in the context of depression? - ✔✔Repeatedly dwelling on
negative thoughts, which maintains and worsens depression.
✔✔What are some biological treatments for depression? - ✔✔Antidepressant
medications (SSRIs, MAO inhibitors), electroconvulsive therapy, and other stimulation
therapies.
✔✔ What is the difference between fear and anxiety? - ✔✔Fear is an acute response to
a known threat, while anxiety is a chronic response to a vague or anticipated threat.
✔✔What is a phobia? - ✔✔A phobia is a persistent, unreasonable fear of an object or
situation that presents little actual danger.
✔✔What are the key DSM-5 criteria for Specific Phobia? - ✔✔Marked fear of a specific
object or situation, immediate anxiety when exposed, avoidance or endurance with
intense fear, fear is out of proportion, and symptoms last 6 months or more.
✔✔What are the categories of phobias? - ✔✔Animal, natural environment, blood-injury-
injection, situational, and other.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of phobias? - ✔✔13% lifetime prevalence.
✔✔How do safety behaviors affect anxiety? - ✔✔Safety behaviors can maintain anxiety
as individuals believe they need them to cope.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode? - ✔✔Diagnosis requires 5 or
more symptoms for at least 2 weeks, including depressed mood or loss of
interest/pleasure.
✔✔What are common symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Depressed mood,
loss of interest, weight/appetite change, insomnia/hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of
worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, recurrent thoughts of death.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔20%.
✔✔What is the yearly prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder in the U.S.? - ✔✔8%.
✔✔How does gender affect the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Women
are twice as likely as men to experience it.
✔✔What is Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)? - ✔✔Chronic, less severe
depression lasting 2 years or longer.
✔✔What are the diagnostic criteria for Persistent Depressive Disorder? - ✔✔Depressed
mood for most of the day, occurring more days than not, and not symptom-free for more
than 2 months at a time.
✔✔What is the difference between Major Depression and Persistent Depression? -
✔✔Major Depression lasts 2+ weeks with 5+ symptoms; Persistent Depression lasts 2+
years with 3+ symptoms.
✔✔What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? - ✔✔A specifier of Major Depressive Disorder
that occurs at a specific time of year, usually fall/winter.
✔✔What is Postpartum Depression? - ✔✔Occurs after childbirth and includes extreme
sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
✔✔What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)? - ✔✔Occurs during the week
before menstruation and requires 5 symptoms including at least one mood symptom.
✔✔What characterizes Bipolar Disorders? - ✔✔Mood disorder involving episodes of
depression and mania.
✔✔What are the criteria for a Manic Episode? - ✔✔Duration of at least 1 week with
symptoms like elevated mood, decreased need for sleep, and increased goal-directed
activity.
, ✔✔What is the difference between Mania and Hypomania? - ✔✔Mania lasts 1+ week
with severe impairment; Hypomania lasts 4-7 days with mild impairment.
✔✔What are the characteristics of Cyclothymic Disorder? - ✔✔Chronic mood instability
with numerous hypomanic and depressive symptoms lasting 2+ years.
✔✔What is the Kindling Effect in Bipolar Disorder? - ✔✔Episodes of mania or
depression may become easier to trigger over time.
✔✔What are common treatments for Bipolar Disorder? - ✔✔Medication (lithium,
antipsychotics) and psychotherapy focusing on medication adherence and social skills.
✔✔What does the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Depression suggest? - ✔✔Depression
results from negative thinking patterns and reduced positive reinforcement.
✔✔What is the Cognitive Triad? - ✔✔Three negative beliefs: negative view of self,
world, and future.
✔✔What is Rumination in the context of depression? - ✔✔Repeatedly dwelling on
negative thoughts, which maintains and worsens depression.
✔✔What are some biological treatments for depression? - ✔✔Antidepressant
medications (SSRIs, MAO inhibitors), electroconvulsive therapy, and other stimulation
therapies.
✔✔ What is the difference between fear and anxiety? - ✔✔Fear is an acute response to
a known threat, while anxiety is a chronic response to a vague or anticipated threat.
✔✔What is a phobia? - ✔✔A phobia is a persistent, unreasonable fear of an object or
situation that presents little actual danger.
✔✔What are the key DSM-5 criteria for Specific Phobia? - ✔✔Marked fear of a specific
object or situation, immediate anxiety when exposed, avoidance or endurance with
intense fear, fear is out of proportion, and symptoms last 6 months or more.
✔✔What are the categories of phobias? - ✔✔Animal, natural environment, blood-injury-
injection, situational, and other.
✔✔What is the lifetime prevalence of phobias? - ✔✔13% lifetime prevalence.
✔✔How do safety behaviors affect anxiety? - ✔✔Safety behaviors can maintain anxiety
as individuals believe they need them to cope.
