Psychology – A Level specialist option – Clinical Psychology | e-Consult
A Level specialist option – Clinical Psychology (1 questions)
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Answer:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Core symptoms: depressed mood and loss of interest/pleasure (anhedonia).
- Additional symptoms (any five of the following): significant weight change, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, diminished concentration, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
- Duration: symptoms must be present most days for at least 2 weeks.
- Impairment: clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Core symptom: excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months about a number of events or activities.
- Additional symptoms (at least three of the following): restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance.
- Duration: worry must be present for a minimum of 6 months.
- Impairment: the anxiety causes clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning.
Key differences: MDD requires a depressed mood or anhedonia plus five additional symptoms for 2 weeks, whereas GAD requires chronic worry for 6 months with at least three physical/cognitive symptoms. Both demand functional impairment.