DSM 5 Rule Out Medical Conditions (38)

Question 1

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Acute Stress Disorder?

Answer 1

Sleep Disorder (i.e. obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia)
Stroke

Epilepsy

Migraine

Question 2

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder?

Answer 2

Diabetes
A seizure disorder

Hypoclycemic attack

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Cerebellar ataxia

Multiple Sclerosis

Question 3

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa?

Answer 3

Lupus
Crohn’s Disease

Lyme Disease

Addison’s Disease

Emetophobia

Phagophobia

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Cholelithiasis

Hepatitis

Intestinal Obstruction

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Celiac Disease

Question 4

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Answer 4

Undiagnosed lead poisoning (relevant symptoms: irritability loss of appetite weight loss fatigue, learning difficulties)
Hearing or vision impairment (relevant symptoms: depressed mood, avoiding social interaction, difficulty understanding directions)

Hypothyroidism (relevant symptoms: poor mental development, poor growth, impaired memory)

Child abuse (relevant symptoms: aggression, anger, hyperactivity, changes in school performance, anxiety, loss in self-confidence, defiance, difficulty sitting, inappropriate emotional development/expression)

Medication side-effects

Sleep disturbance (relevant symptoms: difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness)

Question 5

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

Answer 5

Poverty
Neglect

Question 6

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa?

Answer 6

Diabetic gastroparesis
Gastroparesis

Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Post nasal drip

Parasitic infections

Cancer

Intestinal obstruction

Question 7

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Conduct Disorder?

Answer 7

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Mild TBI (MTBI) (relevant symptoms: violent outbursts, lack of empathy)
Substance use

Intoxication

Epilepsy

Endocrinopathies (i.e. high testosterone levels leading to anger outbursts, non-compliance)

Question 8

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Conversion Disorder?

Answer 8

Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis

Lupus

Drug interaction

Undiagnosed stroke

Question 9

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Cyclothymic Disorder?

Answer 9

Multiple Sclerosis
Thyroid gland abnormalities

Question 10

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder?

Answer 10

Epilepsy
Migraine

Drug side-effect or interaction

Question 11

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Dissociative Amnesia?

Answer 11

Normal Aging
A seizure disorder

Head trauma

Question 12

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Encopresis?

Answer 12

Child abuse
Crohn’s Disease

Celiac Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Pancreatitis

Ulcerative colitis

Food allergies

Question 13

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Enuresis?

Answer 13

Obstructive sleep apnea
Child abuse

Urinary tract infections

Overactive bladder syndrome

Interstitial cystitis

Question 14

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Erectile Disorder?

Answer 14

Vascular disease
Arteriosclerosis

Atherosclerosis

Heart disease

High cholesterol

High blood pressure

Hyperlipidemia

Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity

Metabolic Syndrome

Parkinson’s Disease

Multiple Sclerosis

Low testosterone

Peyronie’s Disease

Alcoholism

Medication interactions/side-effects

Spinal issues

Stress

Question 15

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Exhibitionistic Disorder?

Answer 15

Pick’s Disease

Question 16

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Factitious Disorder?

Answer 16

Pernicious Anemia
Multiple Sclerosis

Alzheimer’s Disease

Epilepsy

Lupus

Drug interaction

Undiagnosed stroke

Question 17

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Female Orgasmic Disorder?

Answer 17

Substance use issues
Medication side-effects (i.e. certain anti-depressants and antipsychotics)

Spinal cord damage

Damage to pelvic blood vessels

Question 18

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Frotteuristic Disorder?

Answer 18

Pick’s Disease
Dementia

Temporal lobe epilepsy

Kleine-Levin Syndrome

Question 19

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Gambling Disorder?

Answer 19

Side-effect of dopamine agonist (used in treating Parkinson’s Disease)

Question 20

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 20

Lyme Disease
Hyperthyroidism

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

PTSD

Wilson’s Disease (type of copper overload)

Drug addiction

Heart attack

Angina

Hypertension

Hypoxia

Pheochromocytoma

Question 21

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Illness Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 21

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Pain

Fibromyalgia

Hypothyroidism

Question 22

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Insomnia Disorder?

Answer 22

Chemotherapy
Medication side-effects or interactions

Chronic pain

Neuropathic pain

Sleep apnea

Dyspnea

Restless Leg Syndrome

Stress

Caffeine

Nicotine

Alcohol

Illicit drug use

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Overactive thyroid

Changes in the body’s own circadian rhythms

Poor sleep hygiene

Aging

Question 23

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder?

Answer 23

Temporal lobe epilepsy
Substance intoxication

Alzheimer’s Disease

Brain tumor(s)

Parkinson’s Disease

Traumatic Brain Injury

Question 24

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Kleptomania?

Answer 24

Head trauma
Brain injury

Question 25

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder?

Answer 25

Parkinson's Disease Hyperthyroidism Hypothyroidism Anemia Lyme Disease Medication interaction Lupus Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Multiple Sclerosis Drug side-effect (i.e. steroids, interferon, anti-hypertensives) Fibromyalgia Grief Burnout Aging

Question 26

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Narcolepsy?

Answer 26

Epilepsy Hypersomnia Obstructive Sleep Apnea Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sleep paralysis Hypnagogic and/or hypnopompic hallucinations

Question 27

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Answer 27

Temporal lobe epilepsy Addiction (gambling, substance)

Question 28

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Answer 28

Epilepsy Endocrinopathies (i.e. high testosterone levels leading to anger outbursts, non-compliance, tantrums) Lyme Disease Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Mild TBI (MTBI)

Question 29

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Panic Disorder?

Answer 29

Hypertension Cardiac arrest Endocrine dysfunction (thyroid adrenal) Substance use disorders Neurological problems Mitral valve prolapse Pheochromocytoma Digestive issues

Question 30

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 30

Epilepsy (primarily temporal lobe) Frontal lobe tumors Herpes encephalitis Neurosyphilis AIDS B-12 deficiency Endocrinopathies (especially thyroid and adrenal) Heavy metal poisoning (i.e. mercury, arsenic, manganese, thallium, nickel) Huntington's Disease

Question 31

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Persistent Depressive Disorder?

Answer 31

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Lupus Multiple Sclerosis Drug side-effect (i.e. steroids, interferon) Lyme Disease Anemia

Question 32

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Pica?

Answer 32

Malnutrition Parental neglect/lack of supervision Pregnancy Nutritional deficiency (such as iron) which triggers a specific craving though the craving does not typically provide the needed mineral or other deficient substance

Question 33

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Answer 33

Stroke Epilepsy Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) Addiction Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Post-Concussive Syndrome

Question 34

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Premature (Early) Ejaculation?

Answer 34

Prostatitis Abdominal or Pelvic Trauma Erectile dysfunction < Abnormal hormone levels Thyroid problems Urethra or prostate infection or inflammation Limits in control of the urethral sphincter (insufficient amounts of neurotransmitter serotonin)

Question 35

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Rumination Disorder?

Answer 35

Pneumonia (from aspirated food resulting from vomit) Ulcers Dehydration Weight loss Malnutrition Failure to thrive

Question 36

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Schizophrenia?

Answer 36

Anemia Amphetamine overdose/psychosis Systemic Lupus Epilepsy Tumors (especiall frontal lobe) CNS infections (i.e. herpes encephalitis) Neurosyphilis AIDS Acute Intermittent Porphyia Endocrinopathies (adrenal and thyroid) Metal poisoning (arsenic manganese mercury thallium) Pick's Disease Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Wilson's Disease Syphilis

Question 37

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 37

Hyperthyroidism (restlessness anxiety disruptive behavior increased pulse) Pruritus

Question 38

What medical issues need to be ruled out before you make a diagnosis of Somatic Symptom Disorder?

Answer 38

Hyperparathyroidism Stroke Epilepsy A sleep disorder Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fibromyalgia Multiple chemical sensitivity