A depressed mood after stopping drug use indicates which type of dependence?

• A. Psychological dependence
• B. Physical dependence
• C. Withdrawal
• D. Craving

Answer: (A)

The situation tests the idea that people can depend on a drug emotionally as a way to manage feelings. A depressed mood after stopping shows that the person’s reliance on the drug is about how it affects mood and emotions, not just physical body changes. This mental or emotional craving to use the drug demonstrates psychological dependence—the drug has become a coping mechanism or source of emotional regulation.

If the issue were physical dependence, you’d expect true bodily adaptation to the drug and physical withdrawal symptoms when stopping, like shakes, sweating, or nausea. Craving is a strong urge to use, which can accompany psychological dependence, but the mood change here points to an emotional attachment to the drug. Withdrawal refers to the process of stopping and the range of symptoms that follow, rather than the type of dependence itself.