When a clinician is trying to decide between two diagnoses in order to plan the proper course of treatment, they may be able to use:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Differential Diagnosis is included in the DSM-5 as a part of a clinician's reference in order to make the most appropriate diagnosis. It includes decision trees, specific timeframe specifiers, and recommendations on any underlying conditions. While ICD-9 may help you to code the other diagnoses involved, it will not help you make decisions regarding the impact. Similarly, NCLEX and PDR are great tools, but do not address ways to use diagnosis.

When a Clinician Is Trying to Decide Between Two Diagnoses