CMN 552 Module 1 Exam Mood Disorders –Full Questions and Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct
- University of South Alabama.
1. SIGECAPS for Depression
Question:
What does the mnemonic SIGECAPS represent in the assessment of depression?
Answer:
SIGECAPS is a mnemonic used to assess symptoms of major depressive disorder.
S – Sleep disturbance (increased or decreased sleep)
I – Interest deficit (anhedonia)
G – Guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
E – Energy deficit or fatigue
C – Concentration difficulties
A – Appetite disturbance (increase or decrease)
P – Psychomotor agitation or retardation
S – Suicidality
For diagnosis of a major depressive episode, symptoms must occur nearly every day for at least 2
weeks and represent a change from baseline functioning.
2. Screening Questions for Depression
Question:
What are common screening questions used when assessing depression?
Answer:
Common screening questions include:
“Are you depressed?”
“How has your mood been recently?”
“Have you ever felt so down or depressed that your whole life was affected for at least 2
weeks?”
These questions help determine whether further assessment for major depressive disorder is
needed.
,3. Psychomotor Retardation vs Psychomotor Agitation
Question:
Differentiate psychomotor retardation from psychomotor agitation.
Answer:
Psychomotor Retardation
Psychomotor retardation involves slowed movements, speech, and thinking. Patients may
describe feeling as if their limbs are heavy or “made of lead.”
Psychomotor Agitation
Psychomotor agitation involves excessive restlessness such as:
Pacing
Hand wringing
Inability to sit still
Increased purposeless activity
Both symptoms are commonly seen in major depressive disorder.
4. Seasonal Affective Disorder
Question:
What are the characteristics of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Answer:
Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by recurrent depressive episodes that follow a
seasonal pattern, most commonly occurring during winter months and improving during
summer.
Symptoms often include:
Hypersomnia
Increased appetite
, Carbohydrate craving
Weight gain
Low energy
Patients may report improvement after vacations to sunny environments, similar to the effects of
light therapy.
5. DIGFAST Mnemonic for Mania
Question:
What does the DIGFAST mnemonic represent in mania assessment?
Answer:
DIGFAST is a mnemonic used to assess symptoms of mania.
D – Distractibility
I – Indiscretion or excessive pleasurable activities
G – Grandiosity
F – Flight of ideas
A – Activity increase
S – Sleep deficit (decreased need for sleep)
T – Talkativeness or pressured speech
Patients must exhibit elevated, expansive, or irritable mood along with at least three DIGFAST
symptoms (or four if mood is only irritable).
6. Flight of Ideas
Question:
What is flight of ideas and how is it distinguished from anxious racing thoughts?
Answer:
Flight of ideas refers to rapidly shifting thoughts and accelerated thinking commonly seen during
manic episodes. Speech may jump abruptly between unrelated topics.
Manic racing thoughts are typically experienced as pleasurable or exciting, whereas anxious
racing thoughts are distressing, worried, or fear-based.
, 7. DSM-5 Criteria for Hypomanic Episode
Question:
What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a hypomanic episode?
Answer:
A hypomanic episode involves:
Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
Increased activity or energy
Duration of at least 4 consecutive days
Three or more of the following symptoms must be present:
Grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Increased talkativeness
Flight of ideas
Distractibility
Increased goal-directed activity
Excessive involvement in risky activities
The episode must represent a noticeable change in functioning observable by others but not
severe enough to cause marked impairment or hospitalization.
8. DSM-5 Criteria for Major Depressive Episode
Question:
What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a Major Depressive Episode?
Answer:
A Major Depressive Episode requires five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period,
including either:
Depressed mood, or
Loss of interest or pleasure
- University of South Alabama.
1. SIGECAPS for Depression
Question:
What does the mnemonic SIGECAPS represent in the assessment of depression?
Answer:
SIGECAPS is a mnemonic used to assess symptoms of major depressive disorder.
S – Sleep disturbance (increased or decreased sleep)
I – Interest deficit (anhedonia)
G – Guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
E – Energy deficit or fatigue
C – Concentration difficulties
A – Appetite disturbance (increase or decrease)
P – Psychomotor agitation or retardation
S – Suicidality
For diagnosis of a major depressive episode, symptoms must occur nearly every day for at least 2
weeks and represent a change from baseline functioning.
2. Screening Questions for Depression
Question:
What are common screening questions used when assessing depression?
Answer:
Common screening questions include:
“Are you depressed?”
“How has your mood been recently?”
“Have you ever felt so down or depressed that your whole life was affected for at least 2
weeks?”
These questions help determine whether further assessment for major depressive disorder is
needed.
,3. Psychomotor Retardation vs Psychomotor Agitation
Question:
Differentiate psychomotor retardation from psychomotor agitation.
Answer:
Psychomotor Retardation
Psychomotor retardation involves slowed movements, speech, and thinking. Patients may
describe feeling as if their limbs are heavy or “made of lead.”
Psychomotor Agitation
Psychomotor agitation involves excessive restlessness such as:
Pacing
Hand wringing
Inability to sit still
Increased purposeless activity
Both symptoms are commonly seen in major depressive disorder.
4. Seasonal Affective Disorder
Question:
What are the characteristics of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Answer:
Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by recurrent depressive episodes that follow a
seasonal pattern, most commonly occurring during winter months and improving during
summer.
Symptoms often include:
Hypersomnia
Increased appetite
, Carbohydrate craving
Weight gain
Low energy
Patients may report improvement after vacations to sunny environments, similar to the effects of
light therapy.
5. DIGFAST Mnemonic for Mania
Question:
What does the DIGFAST mnemonic represent in mania assessment?
Answer:
DIGFAST is a mnemonic used to assess symptoms of mania.
D – Distractibility
I – Indiscretion or excessive pleasurable activities
G – Grandiosity
F – Flight of ideas
A – Activity increase
S – Sleep deficit (decreased need for sleep)
T – Talkativeness or pressured speech
Patients must exhibit elevated, expansive, or irritable mood along with at least three DIGFAST
symptoms (or four if mood is only irritable).
6. Flight of Ideas
Question:
What is flight of ideas and how is it distinguished from anxious racing thoughts?
Answer:
Flight of ideas refers to rapidly shifting thoughts and accelerated thinking commonly seen during
manic episodes. Speech may jump abruptly between unrelated topics.
Manic racing thoughts are typically experienced as pleasurable or exciting, whereas anxious
racing thoughts are distressing, worried, or fear-based.
, 7. DSM-5 Criteria for Hypomanic Episode
Question:
What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a hypomanic episode?
Answer:
A hypomanic episode involves:
Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
Increased activity or energy
Duration of at least 4 consecutive days
Three or more of the following symptoms must be present:
Grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Increased talkativeness
Flight of ideas
Distractibility
Increased goal-directed activity
Excessive involvement in risky activities
The episode must represent a noticeable change in functioning observable by others but not
severe enough to cause marked impairment or hospitalization.
8. DSM-5 Criteria for Major Depressive Episode
Question:
What are the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a Major Depressive Episode?
Answer:
A Major Depressive Episode requires five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period,
including either:
Depressed mood, or
Loss of interest or pleasure
