Depression

Items rarely just define depression — they hand you a vignette and ask you to rank actions. The classic trap: a withdrawn, severely depressed client who suddenly brightens, gives away possessions, or “feels at peace” is the priority, because returning energy lets a client act on suicidal plans. The same logic applies to drugs: SSRI suicide risk is elevated early (especially under age 25, per the FDA boxed warning), when symptoms like psychomotor retardation lift before mood does — so tighten observation, do not relax it. SSRIs also need 4–6 weeks for full effect, so “the drug isn’t working yet” is rarely the answer.

Distinguish depression from its siblings. Grief is a normal loss response with intact self-esteem, focused on the loss rather than self-worth (DSM-5-TR adds prolonged grief disorder past ~12 months). Depression carries pervasive worthlessness and anhedonia untied to one loss. Anxiety is apprehension and hyperarousal, not the flat, slowed presentation of depression. Coping means reinforcing existing strengths — never a substitute for a direct suicide assessment when warning signs appear.