DSM-5 Differential Diagnosis: The 6-Step Psychiatric Diagnosis provides medical practitioners with a clear and concise, 6-step decision-making process that will not only improve their skills in diagnosis but it will also improve patient outcomes. The six-step process includes identifying whether the symptoms are not well explained, looking for other signs, taking a history, assessing patients, reviewing the case, and making a tentative diagnosis.

The first step in the DSM-5 Differential Diagnosis process includes gathering the presenting symptoms. This step is essential in accurately diagnosing the disorder. The clinician must be able to determine if the symptoms are well explained. In most cases, the symptoms do not appear to be caused by another disorder.