Decision Decision Trees Trees for for Differential Differential Diagnosis. Diagnosis. By clicking below I agree to not use this as an official diagnostic tool.
I Agree
Pick a differential diagnosis Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition
Differential Diagnosis of Substance-Induced Disorders
Differential Diagnosis of Psychotic Disorders
Differential Diagnosis of Mood Disorders
Differential Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders
Differential Diagnosis of Somatoform Disorders
Symptoms that are due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition
Is there a disturbance of consciousness and a change in cognition
Yes
No
Evidence that the disturbance has more than one etiology (e.g., substance and general medical condition)
Yes
No
Memory impairment? Yes
No
Delirium Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Delirium Due to Multiple Etiologies Start Over
At least one additional cognitive deficit
Yes
No
Evidence that the disturbance has more than one etiology (e.g., cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease)
Yes
No
Dementia Due to Multiple Etiologies Start Over
Evidence that cerebrovascular disease is etiologically related to the disturbance
Yes
No
Vascular Dementia Start Over
Disturbance due to central nervous system condition or systemic condition known to cause dementia
Yes
No
Dementia Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Gradual onset and continuing cognitive decline
Yes
No
Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type
Start Over
Dementia Not Otherwise Specified Start Over
Amnestic Disorder due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Prominent delusions or hallucinations predominate
Yes
No
Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Prominent and persistent mood disturbance predominates
Yes
No
Mood Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Prominent anxiety, panic attacks, obsessions, or compulsions predominate
Yes
No
Anxiety Disorder due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Clinically significant sexual dysfunction exclusively due to a general medical condition
Yes
No
Sexual Dysfunction Due to a General Medical Condition
Start Over
Disturbance in sleep sufficiently severe to warrant independent clinical attention
Yes
No
Sleep Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Catatonia?
Yes
No
Catatonic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
Change in previous personal pattern
Yes
No
Personality Change Due to a General Medical Condition
Start Over
Clinically significant symptoms etiologically related to a general medical condition that do not meet criteria for a specific Mental Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition
Yes
No
Mental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified Due to a General Medical Condition Start Over
No Mental Disorder (Symptoms that are not clinically significant) Start Over
Symptoms must be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance
A disturbance of consciousness and a change in cognition that are in excess of that usually seen in intoxication or withdrawal and that warrant independent clinical attention
Yes
No
Evidence that the disturbance has more than one etiology (e.g., substance and general medical condition)
Yes
No
Persistent memory impairment
Yes
No
Onset of delirium during withdrawal from a substance
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Withdrawal Delirium
Start Over
Substance Induced Intoxication Delirium
Start Over
Delirium Due to Multiple Etiologies Start Over
At least one additional cognitive deficit
Yes
No
Evidence that the disturbance has more than one etiology (e.g., substance and general medical condition)
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia
Start Over
Dementia Due to Multiple Etiologies Start Over
Substance-Induced Persisting Amnestic Disorder
Start Over
Delusions or hallucinations predominate, are in excess of that usually seen in intoxication or withdrawal, and warrant independent clinical attention
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder – Specify if onset during intoxication or withdrawal Start Over
A mood disturbance predominates, is in excess of that usually seen in intoxication or withdrawal, and warrants independent clinical attention.
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Mood Disorder – Specify if onset during intoxication or withdrawal
Start Over
Anxiety, panic attacks, or obsessions or compulsions predominate; are in excess of that usually seen in intoxication or withdrawal; and warrant independent clinical attention
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder – Specify if onset during intoxication or withdrawal
Start Over
Clinically significant sexual dysfunction exclusively due to a substance, is in excess of that usually seen in intoxication, and warrants independent clinical attention
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Start Over
Disturbance is sleep that is sufficiently severe to warrant independent clinical attention and is in excess of that usually seen in intoxication or withdrawal
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Sleep Disorder – Specify if onset during intoxication or withdrawal Start Over
Development of a reversible syndrome due to recent use of a substance
Yes
No
Substance Intoxication
Start Over
Development of a syndrome due to reduction or cessation of use of substance
Yes
No
Substance Withdrawal
Start Over
Clinically significant symptoms due to a substance that do not meet criteria for one of the Substance-Induced Disorders
Yes
No
Substance-Related Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Start Over
No Substance-Induced Disorder (substance-induced symptoms that are not clinically significant)
Start Over
Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized behavior
Due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition
Yes
No
Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition
Start Over
Due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or a toxin)
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
Start Over
Symptoms of active phase of Schizophrenia, lasting at least 1 month
Yes
No
Major Depressive or Manic Episode concurrent with activephase symptoms
Yes
No
Total duration of mood episodes has been brief relative to duration of active and residual periods
Yes
No
Duration at least 6 months
Yes
No
Schizophrenia
Start Over
Schizophreniform Disorder
Start Over
At least 2 weeks of delusions or hallucinations in the absence of prominent mood symptoms
Yes
No
Schizoaffective Disorder
Start Over
Mood Disorder with Psychotic Features (see Mood Disorders tree)
Start Over
Nonbizarre delusions lasting at least 1 month
Yes
No
Total duration of mood episodes has been brief relative to duration of delusional periods
Yes
No
Apart from delusions, functioning not markedly impaired
Yes
No
Delusions occur only during mood episodes
Yes
No
Delusional Disorder
Start Over
Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Start Over
Mood Disorder with Psychotic Features (see Mood Disorders tree)
Start Over
Duration more than 1 day but less than 1 month
Yes
No
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Start Over
Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Start Over
Depressed, elevated, expansive, or irritable mood
Due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition
Yes
No
No Mood Disorder (mood symptoms that are not clinically significant)
Start Over
Mood Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition
Start Over
Due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (i.e., a drug of abuse, a medication, or a toxin)
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Mood Disorder
Start Over
Determine type of present and past mood episodes
Next
Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, at least 1-week duration; marked impairment or hospitalization
Yes
No
Manic Episode
Start Over Mixed Diagnosis
Elevate, expansive, or irritable mood, at least 4-day duration; changes observable by others but less severe than a Manic Episode
Yes
No
Hypomanic Episode
Start Over Mixed Diagnosis
Major Depressive Episode
Start Over Mixed Diagnosis
At least 2 weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest plus associated symptoms, and not better accounted for by Bereavement
Yes
No
Criteria met for Manic Episode and Major Depressive Episode nearly every day for at least 1 week
Yes
No
Mixed Episode
Start Over Mixed Diagnosis
Has ever had a Manic Episode or a Mixed Episode
Yes
No
Psychotic symptoms occur at times other than during Manic or Mixed Episodes
Yes
No
Bipolar I Disorder
Start Over
Occurred exclusively during Schizoaffective Disorder (review Psychotic Disorders tree)
Yes
No
Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type
Start Over
Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (superimposed on a Psychotic Disorder)
Start Over
Has ever had a Hypomanic Episode and at least one Major Depressive Episode
Yes
No
Bipolar II Disorder
Start Over
2+ years of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressed mood
Yes
No
Cyclothymic Disorder
Start Over
Clinically significant manic/hypomanic symptoms that do not meet criteria for a specific Bipolar Disorder
Yes
No
Bipolar Disorder NOS
Start Over
Has ever had a Major Depressive Episode
Yes
No
Psychotic symptoms occur at times other than during Major Depressive Episodes
Yes
No
Major Depressive Disorder
Start Over
Occurred exclusively during Schizoaffective Disorder (review Psychotic Disorders tree)
Yes
No
Schizoaffective Disorder, Depressive Type
Start Over
Depressive Disorder NOS (superimposed on Psychotic Disorder)
Start Over
Depressed mood, more days than not, for at least 2 years with associated symptoms
Yes
No
Dysthymic Disorder
Start Over
Depressed mood not meeting criteria for one of the previous Mood Disorders that develops in response to a stressor
Yes
No
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood
Start Over
Clinically significant depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for a specific Mood Disorder
Yes
No
Depressive Disorder NOS
Start Over
No Mood Disorder (mood symptoms that are not clinically significant)
Start Over
Symptoms of anxiety, fear, avoidance, or increased arousal
Due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical condition
Yes
No
Anxiety disorder due to a general medical condition
Start Over
Due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, a toxin)
Yes
No
Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Start Over
Recurrent unexpected Panic Attacks plus a month of worry, concern about attacks, or change in behavior
Yes
No
Agoraphobia, i.e., anxiety about being in places from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing in the event of having a Panic Attack
Yes
No
Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia
Start Over
Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia
Start Over
Agoraphobia, i.e., anxiety about being in places from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing in the event of having panic-like symptoms
Yes
No
Agoraphobia without History of Panic Disorder
Start Over
Anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures with onset in childhood
Yes
No
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Start Over
Fear of humiliation or embarrassment in social or performance
Yes
No
Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
Start Over
Fear cued by object or situation
Yes
No
Specific Phobia
Start Over
Obsessions or compulsions
Yes
No
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Start Over
6-month period of excessive anxiety and worry plus anxiety symptoms
Yes
No
Occurs exclusively during a Mood or Psychotic Disorder See mood disorders tree
No
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Start Over
Anxiety in response to a severe traumatic event
Yes
No
Reexperiencing of event, increased arousal, and avoidance of stimuli associated with traumatic event
Yes
No
Duration of more than 1 month
Yes
No
No Anxiety Disorder (symptoms of fear, anxiety, or avoidance that are not clinically significant)
Start Over
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Start Over
Acute Stress Disorder
Start Over
Anxiety that does not meet criteria for one of the above Anxiety Disorders and develops in response to a stressor
Yes
No
Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety
Start Over
Clinically significant symptoms that do not meet criteria for a specific Anxiety Disorder
Yes
No
Anxiety Disorder NOS
Start Over
Physical Complaints or irrational anxiety about illness or appearance
Physical complaints are fully explained by a general medical condition and complaints are not in excess of expected
Yes
No
No Anxiety Disorder (symptoms of fear, anxiety, or avoidance that are not clinically significant)
Start Over
Specific General Medical Condition (no somatoform disorder)
Next
Psychological factors adversely affect general medical condition
Next
Psychological Factor Affecting Medical Condition
Start Over
Physical symptoms are intentionally produced
Yes
No
External incentives are absent
Yes
No
Factitious Disorder
Start Over
Malingering
Start Over
History of multiple physical complaints with at least 4 pain symptoms, 2 gastrointestinal symptoms, 1 sexual symptom, and 1 pseudoneurological symptom
Yes
No
Somatization Disorder
Start Over
Symptom or deficit affecting voluntary motor or sensory function
Yes
No
Conversion Disorder
Start Over
Symptom or deficit affecting sexual functioning
Yes
No
Sexual Dysfunction
Start Over
Pain is focus of clinical attention, and psychological factors have important role
Yes
No
Pain Disorder
Start Over
Other physical complaints lasting at least 6 months
Yes
No
Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder
Start Over
Preoccupation with idea of having a serious disease
Yes
No
Belief is of delusional intensity
Yes
No
Hypochondriasis
Start Over
See Psychotic Disorders tree
Start Over
Preoccupation with imagined defect in appearance
Yes
No
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (if delusional, also see Psychotic Disorders tree)
Start Over
Clinically significant somatoform symptoms that do not meet criteria for a specific Somatoform Disorder
Yes
No
Somatoform Disorder NOS
Start Over
No Somatoform Disorder (somatoform symptoms that are not clinically significant)
Start Over