Which diagnosis is associated with feeling too guilty and lacking energy?

• A. Depression
• B. Anxiety
• C. Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• D. Autism Spectrum Disorder

Answer: (A)

Guilt that feels excessive along with low energy is a hallmark of depression in youth. Depression involves a persistent mood disturbance or loss of interest paired with symptoms like fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt. In children and teens, gloomy mood can show up as irritability, and tiredness may be prominent, leading to diminished activity and functioning. This combination helps distinguish it from other disorders: anxiety tends to center on worry and physical arousal rather than pervasive guilt and energy loss; oppositional defiant disorder focuses on defiant behavior toward authority; autism spectrum disorder centers on social-communication difficulties and fixed patterns of behavior. So the pattern of excessive guilt and reduced energy most clearly points to depression.