Which statement correctly describes the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder?

• A. Requires mood symptoms due to a medical condition.
• B. Requires only somatic symptoms.
• C. Requires at least five symptoms including depressed mood or anhedonia for two weeks with distress/impairment.
• D. Requires symptoms for four weeks.

Answer: (C)

Diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder hinges on a cluster of symptoms that must occur together over a brief but specific time frame. The essential principle is that at least five symptoms are present during the same two-week period, and at least one of those symptoms is either depressed mood or markedly diminished interest or pleasure in activities (anhedonia). Beyond that core requirement, the other symptoms can include changes in sleep, appetite or weight, fatigue, psychomotor changes, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, trouble concentrating, or recurrent thoughts of death. Importantly, these symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and cannot be better explained by a substance or another medical condition.

So, the described statement captures the key diagnostic threshold: enough symptoms (five or more), with one being depressed mood or anhedonia, lasting at least two weeks and causing distress or impairment. It’s not correct to think the criteria require mood symptoms solely due to a medical condition, or that only somatic symptoms suffice, or that the duration must be four weeks.