A 66-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer 3 months ago, has lost 18 pounds, wakes frequently during the night, and has very little energy. Over the past month she has been preoccupied with feelings of guilt about “people I have hurt in my life” and expresses concern that she will die in pain. The sign or symptom most likely to indicate that this patient is experiencing a major depressive episode rather than a normal reaction to life-limiting illness is
1.Concern about dying in pain
2.Difficulty sleeping
3.Preoccupation with feelings of guilt
4.Decreased energy
5.Weight loss
Sol:
The sign or symptom most likely to indicate that this patient is experiencing a major depressive episode rather than a normal reaction to serious illness is her preoccupation with feelings of guilt. Such feelings are more characteristic of depression than sadness about being very ill. The other symptoms that the patient shows (e.g., weight loss, decreased energy, and sleep problems) are characteristic of patients with advanced cancer. Fear of dying in pain is realistic and commonly seen in patients with life-limiting illnesses.