Clinician tool

DSM-5 differential diagnosis guide

Work through the diagnostic questions that separate the look-alike conditions on each DSM-5 spectrum. An educational memory aid to structure your thinking — never a diagnostic instrument.

AI-assisted — clinician review required.Prompts, checklists, and any suggested language here are a scaffold, not clinical advice. Confirm accuracy, apply your professional judgment, and follow your agency's policies and NH statute before anything enters the record.

Educational memory aid — not a diagnostic instrument.

This tree is designed to structure differential thinking. It does not replace a full clinical evaluation. A diagnosis requires meeting the complete DSM-5-TR criteria for the disorder, ruling out medical and substance-related causes, and applying clinical judgment. Every endpoint below is framed as a diagnosis to consider — never a conclusion.

Choose a spectrum

Clinical question

Has there ever been a distinct period of abnormally elevated / expansive / irritable mood AND increased energy or activity?

For clinician education and reference only. Not a substitute for a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation or clinical judgment. Criteria summarized from DSM-5-TR — verify against the source text.

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