Adjustment disorders

• Overview:

  • The development of emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor
  • Occurs within 3 months of the stressor
  • Not as a result of a major traumatic event - diagnosis would instead be acute stress reaction/disorder
  • Should not persist for more than 6 months
• Management:

  • Mainstay of treatment is psychotherapy
  • CBT
  • Medication - antidepressants or anxiolytics may be used where symptoms are persistent and distressing