Major Depressive Disorder criteria include a minimum duration of how many weeks?

Major Depressive Disorder criteria include a minimum duration of how many weeks?

• A. 1 week
• B. 2 weeks
• C. 3 weeks
• D. 4 weeks

Answer: (B)

For Major Depressive Disorder, the duration criterion is two weeks. The DSM-5 requires that a person experiences a persistent cluster of symptoms, including either depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), for at least two weeks, with symptoms present most of the day, nearly every day, and causing significant distress or impairment. Shorter periods, like one week, aren’t long enough to meet the threshold, while three or four weeks exceed the minimum but still satisfy the same two-week requirement.

For Major Depressive Disorder, the duration criterion is two weeks. The DSM-5 requires that a person experiences a persistent cluster of symptoms, including either depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), for at least two weeks, with symptoms present most of the day, nearly every day, and causing significant distress or impairment. Shorter periods, like one week, aren’t long enough to meet the threshold, while three or four weeks exceed the minimum but still satisfy the same two-week requirement.