Sarah displays all of the classic symptoms of a major depressive disorder. The fact that her condition is long-term makes it more likely to be a major depressive disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is the persistence of a feeling of uneasiness or that something bad will occur over a long period of time, with no specific trigger. Anorexia is an eating disorder. Anemia is a decrease of oxygen in the blood.

Note that the question asks which answer option does not help explain the prevalence of depression in females. The correct answer is actually a false statement: on average, females have longer lives than males. This increased lifespan can result in a greater sense of loss and loneliness in old age, which can contribute to depressive symptoms in females. The other answer options are all considered plausible reasons that females experience depression more frequently than males.

Depression is accompanied by an overall decrease in energy, pleasure, motivation, and positive thoughts. Aggression is not a common symptom of depression.

Depressed schemas are how an individual views the world and sees events around them. They guide perceptions are tend to be negative beliefs and attitudes. In this case Sherry's therapist is focused on here "general underlying negative beliefs," which is synonymous with "depressed schemas."

Major Depressive Episode is correct, because going off of the description we do not know if Ann has had a manic episode in the past or not. In order to have Major Depressive Disorder, an individual cannot have had a manic episode in the past. The answer would not be Dysthymic Disorder, because those symptoms must persist for two years or more, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is characterized by outbursts of severe temper in addition to depressive symptoms. 

Low levels of serotonin or abnormalities with serotonin receptors are generally associated with depression and other mood disorders. 

"Mood disorders" is the correct choice. Mood disorders are characterized by disturbances in the emotional state. Mood disorders tend to be episodic. 

When a person suffers from major depression, it can be very difficult for the individual to maintain normal levels of functioning in school, work, and at home. Major depression is associated with decreased energy levels and fatigue, not "increased energy levels." All of the other answer choices are common symptoms that are indicative of depression.

Mood disorders are a class of disorders that involve gross changes in mood such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, OCD and PTSD are also not mood disorders.

Affective disorders are defined by heightened and prolonged emotional states. In the instance of anxiety, which can manifest in many forms, one experiences a consistent state of fear that may or may not have a specific set of triggers. Depression is a prolonged state of sadness and apathy, which often involves a general lack of motivation or pleasant emotions, irritability, difficulty focusing, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. Bipolar disorder includes this kind of depressive state, yet also a manic one. During the manic state, there is a general feeling of euphoria, an "on top of the world" kind of feeling that may invite impulsive decision-making and an inflated sense of self-importance.

Psychological disorders that are not affective have to do with delusional thinking patterns, personality, attention deficits, addictions, psychosexuality, or developmental problems. While they may share commonalities and even intersect, affective disorders have distinctly to do with prolonged and extreme emotional states, which can be caused by biological or environmental factors.