In addition, once the offending stressor has terminated, the patient must not display symptoms for more than six months after onset, otherwise this patient may classify under a different disorder. Secondly, the symptoms must arise within one month after the offending stressor. The bereavement exclusion is the only special consideration of diagnostic criteria with adjustment disorder, and is rather limiting as some people react to death in different ways and may grieve even a year after the loss. Firstly, the clinician must differentiate adjustment disorder from symptoms of normal bereavement. One way for a clinician to successfully diagnose adjustment disorder is to be cognizant and well versed of it’s diagnosing criteria. Undoubtedly, genetics, IQ, and social skills play a huge role in the precipitation of adjustment disorder. One’s cultural and economic background may impact their upbringing and therefore coping skills. There is speculation that a patient’s cultural and economic status may create the influence of reaction in adjustment disorder. This factor makes the diagnosing material rather subjective for the clinician, because cultural and external circumstances may impact. The negative impact on the patient’s daily activities must be disproportionate to the event. In addition, these symptoms must affect the patient’s daily activities, such as social or occupational functioning. Unspecified due to maladaptive reactions.For example, if a child is exhibiting this symptom, they may begin to misbehave in school or become aggressive Anxiety mood behavior such as excessive worrying, nervousness, uneasiness.Depressed mood behavior such as dysthymia, tearfulness, hopelessness.How does a clinician recognize the signs of a person presenting with adjustment disorder, and differentiate them from anxiety or depression? Patients experiencing adjustment disorder may exhibit one or a combination of the following symptoms following an identifiable life event three months prior: Unfortunately, many people are not taught great coping skills, hence the dramatic rise of anxiety and depressive disorders. Many people may experience a difficult time in response to a stressful life event. The difference between adjustment disorder and other mental disorders lies in the impact it takes on one’s daily activities, with a true associated stressor for the cause. These stressors can include but are not limited to death, medical diagnoses, marital discord, unexpected life events, finances, sexuality discoveries, family problems, and the list goes on. The type of stressor may vary in significance for children and adolescents versus adults.
The DSM 5 criteria describes adjustment disorder as a development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor within three months of onset.
What is Adjustment Disorder?Īdjustment disorder falls into the wide categorical spectrum of anxiety and depressive disorders.
It is important for the clinician to recognize the symptoms and diagnosing criteria of adjustment disorder in order to properly treat the patient with swiftness. If not addressed appropriately, adjustment disorder can lead to worsening of other psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and even suicide. Adjustment disorder is a common condition, with 5-20 percent of individuals being treated for this as their sole diagnosis in an outpatient care setting. This negative reaction is also known as adjustment disorder. Stressful events are bound to exist and appear within an individual’s lifetime, however the reaction to the event may be deemed inappropriate due to the negativity that results from it in one’s daily living.
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