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.

Grand Valley State University

The differential diagnosis for depressive disorder due to another medical condition includes depressive disorders not attributable to a medical condition, substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, delirium or major or mild neurocognitive disorder, adjustment disorder, and demoralization. These alternatives are distinguished by the timing, context, and likely cause of the depressive symptoms.

Differential Diagnoses for Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

In the differential diagnosis of depressive disorder due to another medical condition, this diagnosis cannot be made if depressive symptoms occur exclusively during an episode of delirium. However, it can be diagnosed concurrently with a major or mild neurocognitive disorder if both the depression and the neurocognitive disorder share an underlying medical etiology, and the medical condition accounts for the depressive symptoms.

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

In the differential diagnosis of depressive disorder due to another medical condition, demoralization may occur as a response to long-term medical illness and involve inadequacy, helplessness, despair, and a tendency to give up. Although tiredness and sadness may occur, demoralization differs from the depressive disorder because the person can still enjoy previously important activities and feel happy at times.

Demoralization versus Depressive Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

A medical condition can act as a stressor associated with adjustment disorder or directly cause a depressive disorder. The distinction depends on the pervasiveness of the depressive presentation and the nature and number of symptoms. Determining whether the medical condition caused the depressive symptoms is also important, although establishing the underlying medical diagnosis is generally outside the DSM's scope.

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