A young boy shows signs of sadness after the death of his sister but has only minor performance issues at school. What best describes his condition?

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Abnormal grief reaction
• C. Normal emotional response
• D. Conversion disorder

Answer: (C)

In the scenario, the young boy is experiencing sadness following the death of his sister but has only minor performance issues in school. This situation aligns with what is typically seen as a normal emotional response to a significant loss. Grief is a common reaction when someone close passes away, especially for a child, and the feelings of sadness, though distressing, can be part of the natural grieving process.

Normal emotional responses to grief can manifest in various ways, including sadness, crying, or changes in behavior, but they do not necessarily reach the threshold of a psychological disorder when the symptoms are mild and temporary. The boy's minor performance issues also indicate he is still managing to function in his daily life and indicates an adjustment rather than a chronic or severe condition.

In contrast, conditions like major depressive disorder would entail more pervasive and severe symptoms impacting daily functioning significantly. An abnormal grief reaction might involve extended periods of dysfunction or unexpected characteristics in the grieving process. Conversion disorder relates to physical symptoms stemming from psychological distress, which is not applicable here.

Therefore, the description of the boy's behavior supports that his reaction to the loss is within the range of expected normal responses to grief.