diagnosis
 
 
 
Differential Diagnosis
 
 
Introduction 
  
Many psychiatric disorders share similar or some of the same symptoms.  Clinicians must distinguish between illnesses that may present in a similar fashion so that they may reach the final and precise diagnosis; the definitive diagnosis.  
 
To accomplish this, it is necessary to rule out other diagnoses with similar or overlapping symptoms.  Some of the other psychiatric diagnoses that must be considered when a patient presents with symptoms that appear to meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia include:
 
  1. Brief Psychotic Disorder (Brief Reactive Psychosis)
 
  1. Bipolar Affective Disorder
 
  1. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
  2.  
  3. Delusional Disorder
  4.  
  5. Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
  6.  
  7. Major Depressive Disorder With Psychotic Features
  8.  
  9. Mood Disorder Not Otherwise Specified With Psychotic Features
  10.  
  11. Mood Disorder With Catatonic Features
  12.  
  13. Personality Disorders (Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal)
  14.  
  15. Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism and other spectrum disorders)
  16.  
  17. Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition (delirium and dementia)
  18.  
  19. Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
  20.  
  21. Schizoaffective Disorder (Depressive or Bipolar Type)
  22.  
  23. Schizophreniform Disorder
  24.  
  25. Substance-Induced Delirium
  26.  
  27. Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia
  28.  
  29. Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
  30.  
  31. Substance-Induced Delirium
  32.  
  33. Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia
  34.  
  35. Substance-Related Disorders
 
  1. Children may present with symptoms from more than one mental disorder, that together, may mimic Schizophrenia (disorganized speech that is a consequence of a Communication Disorder along with disorganized behavior that is a result of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).  These other disorders may also coexist with any of the above disorders as well.
 
 
(Sources: The author’s knowledge base, unless otherwise noted.)
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Related Articles:
 
Diagnosis
 
The Comprehensive Mental Status Examination
 
The Definition of Schizophrenia
 
Catatonic Schizophrenia
 
Disorganized Schizophrenia
 
Paranoid Schizophrenia
 
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia
 
Residual Schizophrenia
 
Schizophreniform Disorder
 
Schizoaffective Disorder
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