Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

If a patient has lost all pleasure in daily activities and spends most time sleeping, which condition are they likely suffering from?

1. Hypomania

2. Anhedonia

3. Catatonia

4. Melancholy

The correct answer is: Anhedonia

The condition described in the question, where a patient has lost all pleasure in daily activities and spends most of their time sleeping, is indicative of anhedonia. Anhedonia is characterized by a significant decrease in the ability to experience pleasure or interest in activities that were once enjoyable, which often leads to social withdrawal and diminished motivation. When individuals experience anhedonia, it can impact various aspects of life, including personal relationships, work, and overall quality of life. The tendency to spend excessive time sleeping may further highlight the individual's lack of engagement with the world around them, reflecting a profound sense of emotional numbness or depression. In contrast, hypomania refers to a state of elevated mood and increased activity levels, which doesn't align with the symptoms of loss of pleasure and excessive sleeping. Catatonia is associated with motor behaviors, which might include unresponsiveness or extreme agitation, but does not specifically relate to the loss of pleasure. Melancholy can imply deep sadness but does not specifically capture the absence of pleasure that is central to anhedonia. Thus, the description of the patient's symptoms aligns most closely with anhedonia, validating the chosen answer.