Which client symptom would eliminate a diagnosis of major depressive disorder?

A diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) requires the presence of specific symptoms that significantly affect a person's mood and functioning. One of the key features of MDD is a pervasive low mood, along with anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyable.

In this context, the third option highlights behaviors such as maxing out charge cards and engaging in promiscuous activities. These behaviors may suggest the possibility of a different mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, where periods of elevated mood or impulsivity can lead to high-risk behaviors, including financial irresponsibility and promiscuity. In contrast, clients with MDD do not typically demonstrate such high-energy or impulsive behaviors; instead, they are more likely to experience feelings of hopelessness, despair, and a lack of interest in activities.

Therefore, when a client exhibits impulsive and risky behaviors that are inconsistent with the depressive symptoms, it can suggest that the individual does not meet the criteria for MDD. This is why the presence of such behaviors would eliminate a diagnosis of major depressive disorder.