Mood Disorders — MCQs

A 23-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by her boyfriend 10 minutes after ingesting at least 15 acetaminophen tablets. She has been admitted to the hospital several times in the past few months after attempted self-harm. She claims that her boyfriend is “extremely selfish” and “does not care for her.” She says she feels lonely and wants her boyfriend to pay attention to her. Her boyfriend says that they have broken up 10 times in the past year because she is prone to outbursts of physical aggression as well as mood swings. He says that these mood swings last a few hours and can vary from states of “exuberance and affection” to states of “depression.” On examination, the patient appears well-dressed and calm. She has normal speech, thought processes, and thought content. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 19-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by ambulance 30 minutes after her neighbor found her unconscious on a running trail. Her neighbor reports that she has been training for a marathon since the beginning of the summer. She is alert and oriented but becomes irritable when realizing that she is at a hospital and refuses to answer questions. She appears tired. She is 174 cm (5 ft 7 in) tall and weighs 51 kg (112 lb). Her temperature is 35.5°C (96°F), pulse is 44/min, respirations are 20/min, and blood pressure is 84/48 mm Hg. Examination shows dry, scaly skin and dry mucous membranes. Cardiopulmonary examination shows a high-frequency, mid-to-late systolic murmur that is heard best at the apex. Her hemoglobin concentration is 11.9 g/dL. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 71-year-old man is brought in by his daughter for forgetfulness. The daughter finds herself repeating things she has already told him. She also reports that the patient recently missed a lunch date they had scheduled. She is worried that he may have Alzheimer's disease because her mother had it, and this is how it started. The patient states that he sometimes forgets where he puts his glasses, but this is not new. He also admits to missing appointments if he doesn't write them in his planner, but he states “I always remember birthdays.” Since his wife passed, the patient has been responsible for all the finances, and the daughter confirms that he pays the bills on time. He cooks for himself, though sometimes he is “lazy” and will order fast food. The patient’s medical history is significant for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. His medications include aspirin, lisinopril, atorvastatin, and methotrexate. He was also treated for depression for the first year following his wife's death, which was 3 years ago. He currently denies feelings of depression or suicidal ideation, but admits that he has been thinking more about death since some of his weekly golfing buddies have passed away. He drinks a beer every night with dinner and smokes cigars socially. A physical examination reveals ulnar deviation of the fingers, decreased grip strength, and a slow, steady gait. The patient is able to spell a 5-letter word backwards and remembers 3/3 items after 5 minutes. Which of the following diagnoses most likely explains the patient’s symptoms?

A 15-year-old boy is brought to the clinic by his father for difficulty in school. He reports that his son has been suspended several times over his high school career for instigating fights. Per the patient, he has always had trouble controlling his anger and would feel especially frustrated at school since he has difficulty “keeping up.” His past medical history is unremarkable and he is up-to-date on all his vaccinations. A physical examination demonstrates a 6-foot tall teenage boy with severe acne vulgaris throughout his face and back. He is later worked up to have a chromosomal abnormality. What is the most likely explanation for this patient’s presentation?

An 8-year-old girl is brought to the physician by her parents because they are concerned with her behavior. She has temper outbursts six or seven times per week, which last anywhere between 5 minutes to half an hour or until she becomes tired. According to her father, she screams at others and throws things in anger “when things don't go her way.” He says these outbursts started when she was 6 and a half years old and even between the outbursts, she is constantly irritable. She had been suspended from school three times in the past year for physical aggression, but her grades have remained unaffected. She appears agitated and restless. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. During the mental status examination, she is uncooperative and refuses to answer questions. What is the most likely diagnosis in this child?

A 9-year-old boy is brought to the psychiatrist due to unusual behavior over the past several months. His mother reports that he has started to blink more frequently than usual. His parents initially attributed this behavior to attention-seeking but he has not stopped despite multiple disciplinary efforts and behavioral therapy from a clinical psychologist. He previously performed well in school but has recently become more disruptive and inattentive in class. He has not been sick recently and denies any drug use. His parents report multiple episodes in the past in which the child seemed overly elated and hyperactive for several days followed by periods in which he felt sad and withdrawn. On examination, he is a well-appearing boy in no acute distress. He is alert and oriented with a normal affect but gets distracted easily throughout the exam. He blinks both eyes several times throughout the examination. Strength, sensation, and gait are all normal. Which of the following medications is most appropriate for this patient?

A 12-year-old boy is referred to a pediatric neurologist because of repetitive motions such as blinking or tilting his head. He is brought in by his mother who says that he also clears his throat and hums repeatedly. These actions have been happening for the past year and his mother is concerned. The boy was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. He is up to date on all vaccinations and is meeting all developmental milestones. On physical exam, he shows no focal neurological deficits and is cognitively normal for his age. He occasionally sharply jerks his head to one side during the physical exam and utters obscene words. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of this condition?

A 25-year-old woman comes to the physician because of headache and difficulty sleeping for the past 2 days. She states that she has had similar symptoms over the past several months and that they occur every month around the same time. The episodes are also frequently accompanied by decreased concentration, angry feelings, and cravings for sweet foods. She says that during these episodes she is unable to work efficiently, and often has many arguments with her colleagues and friends. Menses occur at regular 26-day intervals and last 5 days. Her last menstrual period started about 3 weeks ago. She has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for the last 8 years. She takes no medications. She appears irritable. The patient is oriented to person, place, and time. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment?

A 55-year-old man presents to his primary care physician with complaints of fluctuating mood for the past 2 years. He feels great and full of energy for some months when he is very creative with tons of ideas just racing through his mind. He is noted to be very talkative and distracted by his different ideas. During these times, he is very productive and able to accomplish much at work and home. However, these periods are frequently followed by a prolonged depressed mood. During this time, he has low energy, poor concentration, and low self-esteem. The accompanying feeling of hopelessness from these cycling “ups” and “downs” have him eating and sleeping more during the “downs.” He does not remember a period within the last 2 years where he felt “normal.” What is the most likely diagnosis?

A 65-year-old woman comes to the physician for the evaluation of several episodes of urinary incontinence over the past several months. She reports that she was not able to get to the bathroom in time. During the past 6 months, her husband has noticed that she is starting to forget important appointments and family meetings. She has type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin. The patient had smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 45 years. Her vital signs are within normal limits. On mental status examination, she is confused and has short-term memory deficits. She walks slowly taking short, wide steps. Muscle strength is normal. Deep tendon reflexes are 2+ bilaterally. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's urinary incontinence?