DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS   1.3.   Organic causes   Certain organic pathologies can lead to confusion with depression such as: Neoplasia, Parkinson's   disease, brain tumors, requiring the practice of additional explorations   Hypothyroidism   should   be   looked   for   in   particular   bradycardia,   chilliness   or   increased   weight.   Addisson's  disease  which  is  characterized  by  intense  psychological  and  physical  asthenia  with  abulia.   Diabetes or asthenia is common.   It  should  be  noted  that  organic  pathology  should  be  sought  in  the  absence  of  a  triggering  factor,  in  the   absence  of  a  personal  or  family  mood  history,  in  the  presence  of  symptoms  suggestive  of  an  organic   pathology   or   confusing   elements  or  when  the  slowdown,  the  Asthenia  or  anorexia  are  clear  without   real depression of mood.   1.4.   Mourning   Although it can be complicated by a depressive state, mourning is distinguished by:   ●   Depressive ruminations remain centered on the lost being with painful feelings of injustice,   revolt or anger   ●   The absence of psychomotor slowing and suicidal ideation   ●   Sensitivity to reassurance and reduction of symptoms over time   1.5.   Anxiety disorders   Depressive and anxiety symptoms are often intertwined, with one complicating the other. In favor of   an anxiety disorder:   ●   The evolution of attacks of anxiety, whereas in depression, it is more or less permanent and   typically predominantly morning   ●   The presence of other symptoms of the phobic or obsessive series   ●   Avoidance or reassurance behaviors and rituals   1.6.   Psychotic disorders   The  acute  delirious  burst  (BDA)  poses  a  problem  of  differential  diagnosis  with  delusional  depression.   In  favor  of  BDA:  the  brutal  beginning  of  a  rich  and  polymorphous  delirium,  experienced  intensely  in   an atmosphere of strangeness and anguish. 

 Schizophrenia   ●   Early form of schizophrenia with atypical depression   ●   Depressive states occurring during the illness   ●   Certain   forms   of   schizophrenia:   catatonic   schizophrenia   (state   of   stupor)   and   hebephrenia   (deficit or negative signs).   Delusional disorder   1.7.   Madness   The   intellectual   disturbances   which   accompany   certain   depressive   states,   especially   in   the   elderly,   often  pose  a  differential  diagnosis  with  a  dementia  process.  A  history  of  depression  and  the  presence   of instinctive disorders are in favor of depression.   The therapeutic test allowsoften to distinguish between these two diagnoses (put on antidepressants)   1.8.   Differential diagnoses of depression in children and adolescents   -   Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, especially in school-aged children   -   Anxiety disorders   -   Conduct disorders   -   Variations   of   normal:   any   child   or   adolescent   can   experience   depressive   moments   during   their   development   that   are   not   pathological.   These   variations   from   normal   are   differentiated   from   an   authentic depressive episode by their transient nature and the low impact on the child's life.