<prompt> Please answer with one of the option in the bracket. Write reasoning in between . Write answer in between .Q:A 45-year-old man is brought to the physician by his wife because of difficulty sleeping and poor appetite for the past 4 weeks. During this period, he also has had persistent sadness and difficulty concentrating on tasks, because of which he has been reprimanded at work for poor performance. Over the past 3 years, he has often had such phases, with a maximum symptom-free gap of one month between each of them. His behavior is causing a strain in his relationships with his wife and children. His mother died 4 months ago from breast cancer. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. Mental status examination shows a depressed mood and constricted affect. What is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?? A: Persistent depressive disorder, B: Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, C: Bipolar affective disorder, D: Major depressive disorder, E: Persistent complex bereavement disorder,  <response>: This is a question about diagnosing a psychiatric disorder in a 45-year-old man with symptoms of depressed mood, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and impaired work performance. These symptoms have occurred in episodic phases over the past 3 years, with symptom-free gaps no longer than 1 month. His symptoms worsened after his mother died of cancer 4 months ago. The key aspects are the episodic nature of his depressive symptoms over several years, the short symptom-free gaps, and the exacerbation after a significant loss. This history is most consistent with persistent depressive disorder, which is characterized by chronic, episodic depressive symptoms without full remission for at least 2 years. A: Persistent depressive disorder 