A 23-year old MBA student complains that she has been frustrated and dissatisfied with her life for years. She has always done well academically, but lately she has had little interest in doing her schoolwork and lacks confidence that she can do well. She describes herself, as someone with "big plans" but won’t ultimately "cut it". She also fears that she will never be satisfied with life even if she is successful. She frequently feels irritable, despondent and helpless. She said, "It’s as if my entire life has been laid out for me. I don’t feel like I have any choice about what I do. Worst of all, I think it may all be a complete waste". Lately her persistent negative cognitions have interfered with her schoolwork and her duties as a teaching assistant. She is easily distracted and often puts work off until weeks after it is due. She says that sometimes she puts it off because she worries that her advisor will see it as substandard (this has never actually happened); other times she just doesn’t do it because she doesn’t care anymore. Most likely the student is experiencing symptoms of: