Decision Tree

Decision Decision Trees Trees for for Differential Differential Diagnosis. Diagnosis. By clicking below I agree to not use this as an official diagnostic tool.

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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