Pediatric Dysthymic Disorder Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Edwin S Rogers, PhD, ABPP; Chief Editor: Caroly Pataki, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 19, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of dysthymic disorder in pediatric patients include the following:

  • Reactive attachment disorder
  • Sexual abuse
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Conduct disorder
  • Anorexia
  • Bulimia
  • Encopresis
  • Enuresis
  • Failure to thrive
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Growth failure
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypokalemia
  • Hyponatremia
  • Hypopituitarism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Malnutrition
  • Mononucleosis
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Oppositional defiant disorder[4]
  • Avoidant personality
  • Schizophrenia
  • Nightmares
  • Conversion disorder
  • Pain
  • Somatization
  • Mood disorder due to a general medical condition
  • Alcohol-induced mood disorder
  • Substance-induced mood disorder
  • Alcohol or substance use or abuse
  • Personality disorder
  • Schizoaffective disorder
  • Bereavement
  • Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
  • Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood
  • Depressive disorder not otherwise specified
  • Seasonal affective disorder
  • Growth retardation
  • Mixed language disorder
  • Stuttering
  • Hypochondriasis

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Edwin S Rogers, PhD, ABPP  Clinical Psychologist, Director of Behavioral Medicine Fellowship, Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

Edwin S Rogers, PhD, ABPP is a member of the following medical societies: Association for Behavioral Science and Medical Education, North American Primary Care Research Group, and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Steven L Spalding, MD  Staff Physician, Family Medicine, Norton Community Medical Associates

Steven L Spalding, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association, and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Caroly Pataki, MD  Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Psychiatry, Division Chair, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Caroly Pataki, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Academy of Sciences, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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