Which specifier indicates full remission in a depressed mood?

• A. With anxious distress
• B. In full remission, depressed
• C. In partial remission, depressed
• D. In full remission, manic

Answer: (B)

Remission status describes how much of a depressive episode remains. In DSM-5, mood disorders use course specifiers like full remission and partial remission to indicate the current state of symptoms. Full remission means the depressive symptoms have completely remitted and the person no longer meets criteria for a depressive episode for a sustained period. The phrase that indicates this status is “in full remission, depressed,” because it signals that the depressive episode has fully resolved.

The other options point to features that are not about remission: “with anxious distress” means anxiety symptoms are present during the episode; “in partial remission, depressed” indicates some symptoms persist and criteria are not fully met; and “in full remission, manic” would imply a manic state alongside a remission of depression, which doesn’t fit the depressive-remission status.