Somesh shows loss of interest in most activities. He has estranged himself from family and friends, cannot sleep well at night and suffers from feelings of guilt. His symptoms are indicator of __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Major Depressive Disorder
Option (1) Somatoform disorder — Incorrect. Somatoform disorder is the older name for somatic symptom and related disorders, in which a person complains of physical symptoms for which there is no biological cause. Somesh’s complaints are about mood and interest, not bodily symptoms.
Option (2) Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder — Incorrect. People with OCD are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or to stop themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act. Somesh has no such thoughts or acts.
Option (3) Major Depressive Disorder — Correct. It is a period of depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, with other symptoms such as constant sleep problems, tiredness and excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness. Somesh shows the loss of interest, the withdrawal from family and friends, the poor sleep and the guilt.
Option (4) Generalised Anxiety Disorder — Incorrect. GAD consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears not attached to any particular object, with worry about the future, hypervigilance and motor tension. Somesh’s problem is loss of interest and guilt, not fear.
Note: The term in Option (1), ‘somatoform disorder’, is not in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, nor in the NCERT book (2025-26); both books call this group somatic symptom and related disorders. The term is explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2025-26): “Depressive Disorders … Major depressive disorder is defined as a period of depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, together with other symptoms which may include change in body weight, constant sleep problems, tiredness, inability to think clearly, agitation, greatly slowed behaviour, and thoughts of death and suicide. Other symptoms include excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness.…” “Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders … People affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or are unable to prevent themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts that affect their ability to carry out normal activities.…” |