Depressive symptoms can commonly occur during substance intoxication and withdrawal. If the severity of mood symptoms warrants independent clinical attention, a diagnosis of substance-induced depressive disorder should be considered instead of solely attributing it to substance intoxication or withdrawal.

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- Substance intoxication and withdrawal.
- Independent depressive disorder.
- Depressive disorder due to another medical condition.


Differential Diagnoses to Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., Text revision). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

DSM-5-TR

Substance Intoxication and Withdrawal as Differential Diagnoses to Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder

A substance/medication-induced depressive disorder is distinguished from an independent depressive disorder by the presence of depressive symptoms occurring apart from substance or medication use. If the depressive syndrome does not occur when the substance or medication is being used, it should be diagnosed as an independent depressive disorder.

Independent Depressive Disorder as a Differential Diagnosis to Substance/Medication-Induced Depressive Disorder

When individuals have medical conditions and take medications, clinicians should consider whether mood symptoms are caused by the medical condition itself or the medication. The patient's history is crucial for making this determination. Adjustments in medical treatment may be needed to determine the causative agent. If both substance use or withdrawal and another medical condition contribute to the disturbance, both diagnoses may be given. When there is insufficient evidence to attribute the symptoms to substance use, another medical condition, or if they are independent, a diagnosis of other specified depressive disorder or unspecified depressive disorder is used.

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