The Mnemonic SIGECAPS evaluates which psychological state?

The Mnemonic SIGECAPS evaluates which psychological state?

• A. State of Depression
• B. Anxiety Disorder
• C. Mania
• D. Cognitive Decline

Answer: (A)

SIGECAPS is a mnemonic used to screen for a major depressive episode by recalling eight symptom domains that commonly accompany depression: Sleep changes, Loss of interest (anhedonia), Guilt or worthlessness, Energy loss, Poor Concentration, Appetite change, Psychomotor changes, and Suicidal thoughts. This collection of symptoms targets the depressive pattern, not anxiety, mania, or cognitive decline, which is why it’s best understood as a tool for identifying depression. In practice, these symptoms are considered alongside duration (typically at least two weeks) and the level of distress or impairment they cause, but the mnemonic itself maps out the core depressive symptom cluster.

SIGECAPS is a mnemonic used to screen for a major depressive episode by recalling eight symptom domains that commonly accompany depression: Sleep changes, Loss of interest (anhedonia), Guilt or worthlessness, Energy loss, Poor Concentration, Appetite change, Psychomotor changes, and Suicidal thoughts. This collection of symptoms targets the depressive pattern, not anxiety, mania, or cognitive decline, which is why it’s best understood as a tool for identifying depression. In practice, these symptoms are considered alongside duration (typically at least two weeks) and the level of distress or impairment they cause, but the mnemonic itself maps out the core depressive symptom cluster.