What Is Differential Diagnosis In Mental Health

Most differential diagnoses include a physical exam and a health history.

What is differential diagnosis in mental health. Medicinenet does not provide medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Differential diagnosis is the bread and butter of our task as clinicians patients come into the office seeking relief from broad symptoms such as depressed mood or fatigue and clinicians must consider which of all the disorders in dsm could account for those symptoms. Unfortunately there are currently no lab tests to identify depression. Determine the specific primary disorder step 5.

Your doctor must differentiate between these to determine the actual diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Instead the diagnosis is based on your medical history and your symptoms. From the information gathered in the history and examination the following differential diagnosis can be posited. How will my provider make a differential diagnosis.

A differential diagnosis is a list of possible conditions or diseases that could be causing your symptoms based off of this information. During a health history you ll be asked about your symptoms lifestyle and previous health problems. The process of weighing the probability of one disease versus that of other diseases possibly accounting for a patient s illness. Medical nursing psychiatric psychological counseling social work marriage and family therapy accurate diagnosis allows for common ground to be established in terms of research.

Differential diagnosis sometimes abbreviated ddx or or δδ is the systematic method used to identify the condition syndrome or disorder causing a patient s signs and symptoms. Rule out malingering and factitious disorder step 2. The process of differential diagnosis step 1. Purposes behind diagnosis accurate diagnosis allows for consistency and standardization throughout all disciplines that address mental health concerns.

A differential diagnosis is used to help diagnose physical or mental health disorders that cause similar symptoms. In addition she meets at least five of the dms iv criteria on mental state examination. 1 major depressive disorder lucy s unhappy childhood and psychiatric history of depression support this diagnosis. A differential diagnosis means that there is more than one possibility for your diagnosis.

Rule out malingering and factitious disorder. Steps involved in a differential diagnosis when performing a. The method of differential diagnosis was first suggested for use in the diagnosis of mental disorders by emil kraepelin.