Table 1:
Differential Diagnosis of Major Depression
Type
Specific Cause
 Drugs Corticosteroids, contraceptives, reserpine, alphamethyldopa, anticholinesterases, insecticides, cimetidine, ranitidine, indomethacin, phenothiazine, thallium, mercury, cyclosporin, vincristine, vinblastine, disulfiram, metoclopramide
 Drug withdrawal Amphetamine, cocaine
 Infection Tertiary syphilis, influenza, AIDS, viral pneumonia, viral hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, TB
 Endocrine Hypothyroidism, apathetic hyperthyroidism, diabetes, hyperparathyroidism, late luteal phase dysphoria, Cushing's disease and syndrome, adrenal insufficiency
 Collagen SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia
 Neurologic MS, Parkinson's disease, head trauma, (post concussive syndrome), complex partial seizures, CNS tumors, stroke, early dementia, sleep apnea
 Nutritional Vitamin deficiencies (B12, C, folate, niacin, thiamine)
 Neoplastic Pancreatic cancer, disseminated carcinomatosis
 Psychiatric Bereavement, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatization disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder
 Organic mental  disorders Delirium (acute confusional state), subcortical dementias, frontal lobe dysfunction, neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism
  
Copyright 2002 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

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