Differential Diagnosis - Eppp Knowledge

1. Which diagnosis best explains psychotic symptoms that occur exclusively during mood episodes with full mood syndrome?

   Mood disorder with psychotic features. Psychotic symptoms confined to periods of mood disturbance indicate a mood disorder specifier rather than a primary psychotic disorder.

2. Which diagnosis best fits elevated or irritable mood plus increased energy for at least 1 week with marked impairment?

   Manic episode (bipolar I disorder). Sustained elevated mood and energy causing significant impairment for at least one week define a manic episode in bipolar I disorder.

3. Which diagnosis is most supported by negative symptoms plus functional decline and continuous disturbance for at least 6 months?

   Schizophrenia. Continuous signs including negative symptoms and functional impairment over six months meet the duration and symptom criteria for schizophrenia.

4. Which diagnosis is most supported when mood symptoms are temporally linked to intoxication or withdrawal from a substance?

   Substance/medication-induced mood disorder. Mood disturbances directly resulting from substance effects or withdrawal establish a causal link required for this induced disorder diagnosis.

5. Which diagnosis best fits hallucinations and delusions that resolve after abstinence, with no prior independent psychosis?

   Substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder. Psychotic symptoms emerging during substance use and resolving upon cessation, without independent psychosis history, indicate this induced disorder.

6. Which diagnosis is most supported by recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus persistent worry about more attacks?

   Panic disorder. Recurrent unexpected panic attacks with ongoing concern about future attacks are hallmark criteria distinguishing panic disorder from other anxiety conditions.

7. Which diagnosis best fits inattention that begins after age 50 with objective decline on testing and impaired daily function?

   Major neurocognitive disorder. Late-onset cognitive decline with functional interference and objective evidence points to major neurocognitive disorder rather than developmental issues.

8. Which diagnosis is most supported when panic attacks are cued by a specific object or situation (for example, flying)?

   Specific phobia. Panic attacks provoked by specific stimuli, such as objects or situations, meet the criteria for specific phobia due to the cued nature of the fear response.

9. Which diagnosis best fits intrusive thoughts plus repetitive behaviors performed to reduce distress, recognized as excessive?

   Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Intrusive obsessions and compulsive behaviors aimed at alleviating anxiety, acknowledged as unreasonable, fulfill the core diagnostic requirements for OCD.

10. Which diagnosis best fits at least 2 years of chronic depressive symptoms without symptom-free periods longer than 2 months?

    Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia). Chronic low mood for two years or more, with no prolonged remission, aligns with the criteria for persistent depressive disorder.

11. Which diagnosis best fits recurrent unwanted memories and nightmares after trauma plus avoidance and hyperarousal?

    Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Intrusive trauma-related memories, avoidance, and hypervigilance following a traumatic event satisfy the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.

12. Which diagnosis best fits recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors and marked distress about binges?

    Binge-eating disorder. Binge eating without purging, accompanied by significant emotional distress, distinguishes binge-eating disorder from other eating disorders.

13. Which diagnosis best fits chronic irritability with frequent temper outbursts in a child, without discrete manic episodes?

    Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). Severe, persistent irritability and outbursts in children, lacking episodic mood elevation, meet criteria for DMDD to differentiate from bipolar disorder.

14. Which diagnosis best fits depressive episodes plus at least 1 hypomanic episode and no history of mania?

    Bipolar II disorder. History of hypomania without full mania, combined with major depression, differentiates bipolar II from bipolar I and unipolar depression.

15. Which diagnosis best fits delusions for at least 1 month with otherwise relatively preserved functioning and no prominent hallucinations?

    Delusional disorder. Non-bizarre delusions with minimal impact on functioning and absence of prominent hallucinations characterize delusional disorder.

16. Which diagnosis is most supported by unstable relationships, identity disturbance, and recurrent self-harm or suicidality?

    Borderline personality disorder. Patterns of interpersonal instability, self-image issues, and impulsive self-damaging behaviors are central to borderline personality disorder diagnosis.

17. Which diagnosis is most supported by persistent anxiety and worry about multiple domains for at least 6 months?

    Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Excessive worry across various life areas persisting for six months or more defines GAD, differentiating it from situational anxieties.

18. Identify the key differentiator between autism spectrum disorder and social anxiety when social avoidance is present.

    ASD: lifelong social-communication deficits and restricted interests. Lifelong deficits in social reciprocity and repetitive behaviors differentiate ASD from anxiety-driven social avoidance in social anxiety disorder.

19. Which diagnosis best fits panic-like episodes that occur only in social or performance situations with fear of scrutiny?

    Social anxiety disorder. Panic symptoms triggered exclusively by social situations involving fear of negative evaluation align with the diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder.

20. Which diagnosis is most supported by prominent fear of weight gain plus restriction and significantly low body weight?

    Anorexia nervosa. Intense fear of gaining weight leading to severe caloric restriction and low BMI are defining features of anorexia nervosa.

21. Which diagnosis best fits recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise)?

    Bulimia nervosa. Binge episodes followed by purging or other compensatory actions to prevent weight gain characterize bulimia nervosa.

22. Which diagnosis best fits attentional problems that begin in childhood and occur across at least 2 settings?

    Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Inattention and hyperactivity symptoms onset before age 12 and present in multiple contexts are essential for diagnosing ADHD.

23. Which diagnosis best fits fluctuating attention and cognition with acute onset and an identifiable medical cause?

    Delirium. Acute, fluctuating cognitive changes due to a medical etiology differentiate delirium from chronic or developmental attentional disorders.

24. Which diagnosis is most supported when psychotic symptoms persist for at least 2 weeks without mood symptoms?

    Schizoaffective disorder. Persistence of psychosis independent of mood episodes for at least two weeks distinguishes schizoaffective disorder from mood disorders with psychotic features.

25. Which diagnosis best fits grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy without pervasive self-harm or instability?

    Narcissistic personality disorder. Grandiosity and empathy deficits without the emotional volatility or self-harm typical of other personality disorders define narcissistic personality disorder.

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