Module Components

• Overview
• Learning Activities

Topics

• History
• Differential Diagnoses
• Treatment
• Pediatric Considerations

NDNP 870 - Diagnosis and Management 1: Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan

Module 5: Substance Use Disorders

Differential Diagnoses

One differential diagnosis is there could be a non-pathological use of the drug.

Medical conditions: Medical conditions such as diabetic acidosis, essential tremor, cerebellar ataxia and multiple sclerosis can resemble alcohol intoxication or withdrawal. Slurring speech & incoordination may results from traumatic health injury, seizure disorder, stroke, or central nervous system tumors.

Primary Psychiatric Disorders: Substance use disorder symptoms and signs can resemble primary psychiatric diagnoses

• caffeine intoxication—anxiety/panic
• hallucinogens—psychotic disorders, major depressive disorder, conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder

The signs and symptoms of one drug are similar for other drugs (Alcohol, sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytics, opioids).

Laboratory tests for substance use include toxicology urine screen. These are the time ranges for identifying specific drugs in a urine screen