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Presentation comparison
EmergencyCovers suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, recurrent self-harm, and crisis-related risk.
1 of 7 diagnoses compared
| CriteriaComparison detail | Major depressive disorderEmergency |
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Sustained wish to die or escape, often with cognitive constriction and pessimism.
Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
| Bipolar depressionEmergencyNot selected |
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| Psychosis-driven suicidalityEmergencyNot selected |
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| Borderline personality pathwayEmergencyNot selected |
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| PTSDEmergencyNot selected |
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| Substance-related suicidalityEmergencyNot selected |
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| Adjustment crisisEmergencyNot selected |
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| Why it fits | Hopelessness, anhedonia, guilt, burdensomeness | Depression with agitation, irritability, racing thoughts | Command hallucinations, delusional guilt, persecutory fear | Interpersonal crisis, attachment threat, shame, emptiness | Trauma cues, flashbacks, dissociative states | Intoxication, withdrawal, or crash states | Acute stressor, often without full syndromal illness |
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| What argues against | Applies to the whole presentationReview locally. | ||||||
| Must-not-miss | Planning, rehearsal, concealed intent, psychotic depression, high-lethality means | Mixed features, recent antidepressant activation, psychosis, substance use | Malevolent commands, high conviction, prior obedience | Escalating lethality, | |||
| Bedside question | Applies to the whole presentationSustained wish to die or escape, often with cognitive constriction and pessimism. | ||||||
| Immediate action | Applies to the whole presentationQuiet, organised suicidality is often higher risk than dramatic expression Mixed states are easy to miss and carry very high suicide risk | ||||||
| Investigations | Applies to the whole presentationGuided by presentation. | ||||||
| Mimics / overlap | Applies to the whole presentationReview overlap locally. | ||||||
Scroll horizontally to review more candidate differentials. Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
Review locally.
Sustained wish to die or escape, often with cognitive constriction and pessimism.
Quiet, organised suicidality is often higher risk than dramatic expression Mixed states are easy to miss and carry very high suicide risk
Guided by presentation.
Review overlap locally.
Hopelessness, anhedonia, guilt, burdensomeness
Planning, rehearsal, concealed intent, psychotic depression, high-lethality means
Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
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v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
Open a selected differential to review its clinical record.
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Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
| Severe dissociation, poor recall, aggressive defensive state, co-occurring substance use |
| Persistent intent after sobering, severe withdrawal, polysubstance use |
| Access to lethal means, social isolation, untreated pain, burdensomeness |