What are the DSM-5 criteria for Major Depressive Disorder without psychotic features?

• A. At least 5 of the following symptoms during a 2-week period, with either depressed mood or anhedonia, causing distress or impairment; symptoms not due to substances or another medical condition.
• B. At least 3 of the following symptoms during a 2-week period.
• C. The DSM-5 criteria require 5 or more symptoms during a 2-week period, with either depressed mood or anhedonia, causing distress or impairment; and symptoms are not due to substances only.
• D. Symptoms must last at least one month.

Answer: (C)

Major depressive disorder is diagnosed when a person has five or more symptoms occurring during the same 2-week period, and at least one of those symptoms must be depressed mood or markedly diminished interest or pleasure (anhedonia). These symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning and must not be attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or to another medical condition. If psychotic features are present, that would be noted with a specifier; without psychotic features, the standard criteria apply.

The best answer reflects these exact elements: five or more symptoms in a two-week window, with either depressed mood or anhedonia, causing distress or impairment, and not due to substances (and by implication not due to a medical condition). The other options fall short by proposing too few symptoms, an incorrect duration, or incomplete exclusion criteria.