Which feature is most characteristic of melancholic depression?

• A. Hypersomnia.
• B. Nonreactivity to positive events.
• C. Non-delusional gloom.
• D. Increase in appetite.

Answer: (B)

Melancholic depression is defined by a marked lack of reactivity to normally positive or pleasant stimuli. Even things that would typically bring joy don’t lift the mood, reflecting a deep, pervasive anhedonia and a rigid, profoundly depressed mood. That’s why nonreactivity to positive events best fits the characteristic picture. By contrast, hypersomnia is more aligned with other subtypes like atypical depression, where sleep tends to increase; increase in appetite is not typical and often accompanies weight gain rather than loss, which is more common in melancholia; and while gloom can be severe, the specific hallmark feature here is the blunted response to positive experiences.