A 62-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Office for a Checkup

A 62-year-old woman comes to the office for a checkup.  Her husband died 5 months ago in a biking accident, which she witnessed.  She has little appetite, resulting in weight loss of 3.17 kg (7 lb) , and tends to wake up two hours before her alarm clock rings.  The patient feels overwhelmed at having to manage the household finances, saying, "My husband always took care of the bills so I wouldn't have to worry."  She avoids cycling, a hobby she shared with her husband, but continues to volunteer at a children's hospital.  The patient has no nightmares or suicidal thoughts.  During the visit, she tears up intermittently but smiles when sharing a memory of a vacation she took with her husband.  Which of the following is the best explanation for this patient's condition?

A) Dependent personality disorder
B) Major depressive disorder
C) Normal grief
D) Persistent complex bereavement disorder
E) Persistent depressive disorder
F) Post-traumatic stress disorder

Correct Answer:

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