Which specifier denotes psychotic features during a depressive episode?

Which specifier denotes psychotic features during a depressive episode?

• A. With psychotic features, depressed
• B. With anxious distress
• C. In full remission, manic
• D. In partial remission, hypomanic

Answer: (A)

Psychotic features during a depressive episode are captured by the specifier “with psychotic features.” When a depressive episode includes delusions or hallucinations, this designation signals a more severe form of depression and often guides treatment toward combining an antidepressant with an antipsychotic and closer clinical monitoring. Other specifiers are not about psychosis: “with anxious distress” refers to prominent anxiety symptoms within the depression, not psychotic symptoms; “in full remission” or “in partial remission” describe the current remission status rather than the presence of psychosis; and manic or hypomanic specifiers point to bipolar-type mood episodes, not a depressive episode with psychotic features. Therefore, the correct choice is the specifier that explicitly denotes psychotic features during a depressive episode.

Psychotic features during a depressive episode are captured by the specifier “with psychotic features.” When a depressive episode includes delusions or hallucinations, this designation signals a more severe form of depression and often guides treatment toward combining an antidepressant with an antipsychotic and closer clinical monitoring. Other specifiers are not about psychosis: “with anxious distress” refers to prominent anxiety symptoms within the depression, not psychotic symptoms; “in full remission” or “in partial remission” describe the current remission status rather than the presence of psychosis; and manic or hypomanic specifiers point to bipolar-type mood episodes, not a depressive episode with psychotic features. Therefore, the correct choice is the specifier that explicitly denotes psychotic features during a depressive episode.