CMN 552 Exam 1 UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a key challenge in assessing depression symptoms? - CORRECT
ANSWER Distinguishing true-positive from false-positive responses.
What must be established to confirm a symptom of depression? - CORRECT ANSWER The
symptom must be a change from baseline and have occurred almost every day for 2 weeks.
What is an example of a leading question in depression screening? - CORRECT ANSWER Has
your depression made it hard for you to concentrate?
What is a nonleading question to assess concentration? - CORRECT ANSWER Do you think
your concentration has been better or worse than normal over the past 2 weeks?
What are the SIGECAPS symptoms used in depression screening? - CORRECT
ANSWER Sleep disorder, Interest deficit, Guilt, Energy deficit, Concentration deficit, Appetite
disorder, Psychomotor changes, Suicidality.
What is the minimum number of SIGECAPS symptoms required for dysthymic disorder? -
CORRECT ANSWER Two of the six starred symptoms.
What initial question can be asked to screen for sleep disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER Have
you been sleeping normally?
What is anhedonia? - CORRECT ANSWER A deficit in interest or pleasure in activities that
were once enjoyable.
How can a clinician assess a patient's interest level? - CORRECT ANSWER By asking about
activities they enjoyed before feeling depressed.
What questions assess feelings of guilt and worthlessness? - CORRECT ANSWER How have
you been feeling about yourself? Do you feel you are a good person?
,What is a common screening question for energy levels? - CORRECT ANSWER How has your
energy level been over the past couple of weeks?
How can you differentiate between energy loss due to depression and medical illness? - CORRECT
ANSWER Assess the pattern of energy throughout the day.
What questions can assess concentration deficits? - CORRECT ANSWER Have you been able
to focus? Have you noticed changes in your memory?
What is a sign of pseudodementia in depression? - CORRECT ANSWER Difficulty making
basic decisions or concentrating on reading.
What should be asked regarding appetite changes in depressed patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Since you've been depressed, has your appetite increased, decreased, or stayed the
same?
What is the recommended time to spend on screening if the result is negative? - CORRECT
ANSWER 1 minute.
What is the recommended time to spend on screening if the result is positive? - CORRECT
ANSWER 5 minutes.
What is the significance of diurnal variation in mood? - CORRECT ANSWER It refers to
changes in mood throughout the day, often worsening in the morning.
What is a potential side effect of SSRIs related to anhedonia? - CORRECT ANSWER Apathy
syndrome, which may occur in 20% to 30% of patients.
What is the importance of establishing a baseline for activities? - CORRECT ANSWER It
allows comparison to assess the impact of depression on the patient's interests.
What are some common phrases patients might use to describe anhedonia? - CORRECT
ANSWER I'm bored all the time, I have no motivation, I don't care about anything.
,What should be assessed regarding a patient's mood changes throughout the day? - CORRECT
ANSWER How does your mood change as the day goes on?
What is the role of creativity and persistence in diagnosing depression? - CORRECT
ANSWER They are essential in establishing whether symptoms meet DSM-5 criteria.
What is a potential pitfall when asking about interest in activities? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients may not understand the question or may only associate pleasure with
extraordinary experiences.
What is a common misconception about self-worth in depressed patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients may feel especially critical of themselves and doubt their self-worth.
What is the significance of asking about hope for the future? - CORRECT ANSWER It assesses
the patient's feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
What should you ask to assess changes in appetite during depression? - CORRECT
ANSWER Inquire if the patient's appetite has increased, decreased, or stayed the same, and if
they have lost or gained weight.
How can you quantify a patient's eating habits? - CORRECT ANSWER Ask how many meals a
day they eat and if food tastes good to them.
What is psychomotor agitation? - CORRECT ANSWER It refers to increased restlessness, such
as pacing or inability to sit still.
What is psychomotor retardation? - CORRECT ANSWER It is characterized by slowed
movements, as if the limbs are made of lead.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? - CORRECT ANSWER A type of depression that
occurs seasonally, often worsening in winter and improving in summer.
, What symptoms indicate a hypomanic episode according to DSM-5? - CORRECT
ANSWER Elevated mood, increased activity, and at least three additional symptoms like
grandiosity or decreased need for sleep.
What does the acronym DIGFAST stand for in assessing manic episodes? - CORRECT
ANSWER Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep
deficit, Talkativeness.
What is the minimum duration for a hypomanic episode? - CORRECT ANSWER At least 4
consecutive days.
What are common symptoms of a major depressive episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and at least five other symptoms over a
two-week period.
How can you differentiate between manic racing thoughts and anxious racing thoughts? - CORRECT
ANSWER Ask if the racing thoughts feel good or are unpleasant and worried.
What is a key feature of a hypomanic episode in terms of functioning? - CORRECT
ANSWER There must be a noticeable change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the
individual when not symptomatic.
What should be assessed regarding substance use during a manic episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Determine if manic behaviors occurred in the context of alcohol or drug abuse.
What is the significance of a full hypomanic episode emerging during antidepressant treatment? -
CORRECT ANSWER It can be sufficient evidence for a hypomanic episode diagnosis if it
persists beyond the physiological effects of treatment.
What is the DSM-5 criterion for diagnosing a major depressive episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Presence of five or more symptoms during the same two-week period, including
depressed mood or loss of interest.
What is the role of light therapy in Seasonal Affective Disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER It
mimics the response to natural sunlight, helping to alleviate symptoms of depression.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What is a key challenge in assessing depression symptoms? - CORRECT
ANSWER Distinguishing true-positive from false-positive responses.
What must be established to confirm a symptom of depression? - CORRECT ANSWER The
symptom must be a change from baseline and have occurred almost every day for 2 weeks.
What is an example of a leading question in depression screening? - CORRECT ANSWER Has
your depression made it hard for you to concentrate?
What is a nonleading question to assess concentration? - CORRECT ANSWER Do you think
your concentration has been better or worse than normal over the past 2 weeks?
What are the SIGECAPS symptoms used in depression screening? - CORRECT
ANSWER Sleep disorder, Interest deficit, Guilt, Energy deficit, Concentration deficit, Appetite
disorder, Psychomotor changes, Suicidality.
What is the minimum number of SIGECAPS symptoms required for dysthymic disorder? -
CORRECT ANSWER Two of the six starred symptoms.
What initial question can be asked to screen for sleep disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER Have
you been sleeping normally?
What is anhedonia? - CORRECT ANSWER A deficit in interest or pleasure in activities that
were once enjoyable.
How can a clinician assess a patient's interest level? - CORRECT ANSWER By asking about
activities they enjoyed before feeling depressed.
What questions assess feelings of guilt and worthlessness? - CORRECT ANSWER How have
you been feeling about yourself? Do you feel you are a good person?
,What is a common screening question for energy levels? - CORRECT ANSWER How has your
energy level been over the past couple of weeks?
How can you differentiate between energy loss due to depression and medical illness? - CORRECT
ANSWER Assess the pattern of energy throughout the day.
What questions can assess concentration deficits? - CORRECT ANSWER Have you been able
to focus? Have you noticed changes in your memory?
What is a sign of pseudodementia in depression? - CORRECT ANSWER Difficulty making
basic decisions or concentrating on reading.
What should be asked regarding appetite changes in depressed patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Since you've been depressed, has your appetite increased, decreased, or stayed the
same?
What is the recommended time to spend on screening if the result is negative? - CORRECT
ANSWER 1 minute.
What is the recommended time to spend on screening if the result is positive? - CORRECT
ANSWER 5 minutes.
What is the significance of diurnal variation in mood? - CORRECT ANSWER It refers to
changes in mood throughout the day, often worsening in the morning.
What is a potential side effect of SSRIs related to anhedonia? - CORRECT ANSWER Apathy
syndrome, which may occur in 20% to 30% of patients.
What is the importance of establishing a baseline for activities? - CORRECT ANSWER It
allows comparison to assess the impact of depression on the patient's interests.
What are some common phrases patients might use to describe anhedonia? - CORRECT
ANSWER I'm bored all the time, I have no motivation, I don't care about anything.
,What should be assessed regarding a patient's mood changes throughout the day? - CORRECT
ANSWER How does your mood change as the day goes on?
What is the role of creativity and persistence in diagnosing depression? - CORRECT
ANSWER They are essential in establishing whether symptoms meet DSM-5 criteria.
What is a potential pitfall when asking about interest in activities? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients may not understand the question or may only associate pleasure with
extraordinary experiences.
What is a common misconception about self-worth in depressed patients? - CORRECT
ANSWER Patients may feel especially critical of themselves and doubt their self-worth.
What is the significance of asking about hope for the future? - CORRECT ANSWER It assesses
the patient's feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
What should you ask to assess changes in appetite during depression? - CORRECT
ANSWER Inquire if the patient's appetite has increased, decreased, or stayed the same, and if
they have lost or gained weight.
How can you quantify a patient's eating habits? - CORRECT ANSWER Ask how many meals a
day they eat and if food tastes good to them.
What is psychomotor agitation? - CORRECT ANSWER It refers to increased restlessness, such
as pacing or inability to sit still.
What is psychomotor retardation? - CORRECT ANSWER It is characterized by slowed
movements, as if the limbs are made of lead.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? - CORRECT ANSWER A type of depression that
occurs seasonally, often worsening in winter and improving in summer.
, What symptoms indicate a hypomanic episode according to DSM-5? - CORRECT
ANSWER Elevated mood, increased activity, and at least three additional symptoms like
grandiosity or decreased need for sleep.
What does the acronym DIGFAST stand for in assessing manic episodes? - CORRECT
ANSWER Distractibility, Indiscretion, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep
deficit, Talkativeness.
What is the minimum duration for a hypomanic episode? - CORRECT ANSWER At least 4
consecutive days.
What are common symptoms of a major depressive episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and at least five other symptoms over a
two-week period.
How can you differentiate between manic racing thoughts and anxious racing thoughts? - CORRECT
ANSWER Ask if the racing thoughts feel good or are unpleasant and worried.
What is a key feature of a hypomanic episode in terms of functioning? - CORRECT
ANSWER There must be a noticeable change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the
individual when not symptomatic.
What should be assessed regarding substance use during a manic episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Determine if manic behaviors occurred in the context of alcohol or drug abuse.
What is the significance of a full hypomanic episode emerging during antidepressant treatment? -
CORRECT ANSWER It can be sufficient evidence for a hypomanic episode diagnosis if it
persists beyond the physiological effects of treatment.
What is the DSM-5 criterion for diagnosing a major depressive episode? - CORRECT
ANSWER Presence of five or more symptoms during the same two-week period, including
depressed mood or loss of interest.
What is the role of light therapy in Seasonal Affective Disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER It
mimics the response to natural sunlight, helping to alleviate symptoms of depression.
