It's important to tell the difference between a depressive episode and an adjustment disorder because the medical condition itself can cause stress and lead to either of them. The things that set them apart are pervasiveness of the depression and the specific qualities and quantities of symptoms. Figuring out what medical condition is causing the depression is also important but not generally within the scope of the DSM.

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Other possible disorders that could be causing symptoms include:

- Depressive disorders not due to another medical condition

- Medication-induced depressive disorder

- Delirium and major or mild neurocognitive disorder

- Adjustment disorders

- Demoralization

Differential Diagnosis to Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

If someone is confused and disoriented (delirious), they can't be diagnosed with depression caused by another medical condition. But, if someone has a mental problem that affects their thinking and memory (neurocognitive disorder) and they also have depression, they can be diagnosed with both conditions. This is especially true if the depression is caused by the same thing that is causing the neurocognitive disorder and the symptoms of depression are explanatory of what's making the person sick.

Differential Diagnosis of Delirium and Major or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (DDDAMC)

Determination of whether a medical
condition accompanying a depressive disorder is causing the disorder depends on:
- The absence of depressive episodes prior to onset of the medical condition
- The probability of the medical condition's potential to promote a depressive disorder
- The course of the depressive symptoms after the development of the medical condition, and whether the symptoms also remit when the condition is treated or remits.

Differential Diagnosis of Depressive Disorders Not Due to Another Medical Condition (DDDAMC)

Medications like steroids or alpha-interferon can induce depressive or manic symptoms. Clinical judgement based on all evidence is neccesary to make this determination of a substance-induced syndrome.

Differential Diagnosis of Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder (DDDAMC)

Differential Diagnosis of Adjustment Disorders (DDDAMC)

Demoralization is a typical response to long-term medical illnesses, characterized by feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and despair, with a tendency to give up. It may be accompanied by some symptoms of depression such as tiredness and sadness, but it is different from depressive disorder due to another medical condition in that the individual is still able to enjoy activities that were once important to them and feel happy at times.

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