The Importance of Differential Diagnosis - ADHD
A Differential Diagnosis is a determination of what problem a person has in contrast to all the other possible problems that might produce similar symptoms.
As mental health clinicians and professionals our training and clinical judgment provides with the ability to understand and access for differential diagnosis. Any clinician or lay person can read the symptom check lists in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) and on websites listing these symptoms. Often people will do this and figure this that they have the diagnosis or another diagnosis they are reading about “self diagnosis”. But the key to completing a thorough assessment is not only knowing specific criteria for these disorders but also ruling out other possible reasons or diagnosis that has similar symptoms.
For example, ADHD for the past decade or more has become known to the general population and school personnel thorough education and media coverage of this childhood disruptive disorder. The diagnostic criteria include symptoms related to inattention and hyperactivitimpulsivelyty such as talking excessively, not listening when spoken to directly, etc. A thorough clinician would what to rule out any possible medical/neurological diagnosis such as a seizure disorder, lead poisoning, tic disorder, medication side effects for example, antihistamines, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Clinicians would want to rule out other mental disorders such as developmental disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders such as autism, anxiety, other disruptive disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, mood disorders (depression and bipolar - childhood symptoms can include, irritability, poor concentration, inattention, etc) as well as adjustment disorders. Children who have had multiple stressors and environmental stressors in their lives may exhibit symptoms that appear similar to the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. An accurate diagnosis means digging deeper than reading the symptom checklist.
As mental health clinicians and professionals our training and clinical judgment provides with the ability to understand and access for differential diagnosis. Any clinician or lay person can read the symptom check lists in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) and on websites listing these symptoms. Often people will do this and figure this that they have the diagnosis or another diagnosis they are reading about “self diagnosis”. But the key to completing a thorough assessment is not only knowing specific criteria for these disorders but also ruling out other possible reasons or diagnosis that has similar symptoms.
For example, ADHD for the past decade or more has become known to the general population and school personnel thorough education and media coverage of this childhood disruptive disorder. The diagnostic criteria include symptoms related to inattention and hyperactivitimpulsivelyty such as talking excessively, not listening when spoken to directly, etc. A thorough clinician would what to rule out any possible medical/neurological diagnosis such as a seizure disorder, lead poisoning, tic disorder, medication side effects for example, antihistamines, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Clinicians would want to rule out other mental disorders such as developmental disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders such as autism, anxiety, other disruptive disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, mood disorders (depression and bipolar - childhood symptoms can include, irritability, poor concentration, inattention, etc) as well as adjustment disorders. Children who have had multiple stressors and environmental stressors in their lives may exhibit symptoms that appear similar to the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. An accurate diagnosis means digging deeper than reading the symptom checklist.
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