neurotic illness or a personality problem easily be mistaken when it presents as apathy and failing motivation, or agitated and demanding behaviour, or hypochondriacal complaints.
dementia - the patient may present with impairment of concentration and memory loss which may be dismissed as demented.(1)
primary paranoid illness may be considered if the patient has depressive delusional ideas.
alcoholism is an important feature to rule out
grief - this is an inherent trait of the human experience and should not be interpreted as a major depressive episode unless it fulfils clinical depression criteria.
Reference
Byers AL, Yaffe K. Depression and risk of developing dementia. Nat Rev Neurol. 2011 May 03;7(6):323-31
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