Which type of major depressive disorder is associated with mood changes that follow a seasonal pattern?

• A. Seasonal
• B. Melancholic
• C. Catatonic
• D. Posttraumatic

Answer: (A)

Seasonal pattern mood changes are described by the seasonal pattern specifier for major depressive disorder. This means depressive episodes reliably occur at specific times of the year and remit at others, most often starting in fall or winter and improving in spring or summer. It’s sometimes called Seasonal Affective Disorder when the seasonal pattern is prominent enough to affect diagnosis and treatment. The key idea is timing tied to the seasons, likely related to changes in daylight and circadian rhythms, not the particular qualitative symptoms of depression themselves.

The other options refer to different clinical features or conditions: melancholic features describe a distinct subtype with specific vegetative symptoms such as profound anhedonia and early morning awakening; catatonic features involve motor symptoms and unusual psychomotor behavior; posttraumatic refers to mood issues linked to exposure to traumatic events, not a seasonal timing pattern.