Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder (AjD) is diagnosed when a person starts showing an excessive, extreme reaction to a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one, a job loss, or divorce.
While each of these examples can cause considerable distress, having AjD means the person can’t function at an expected level in a job, learning environment, social setting, or other important area of functioning.
Characteristics
Adjustment disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It’s characterized by:
- emotional and behavioral disturbances such as feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed, and social withdrawal,
- difficulties with activities of daily living such as washing, cleaning, and cooking
Prevalence
Adjustment disorder is a common condition that has a prevalence that ranges from 3 – 10% in regular healthcare settings. It is often undiagnosed by family doctors. Adjustment disorder can be diagnosed in both children and adults; however, children with AjD tend to show it through their behavior (acting out) rather than through their emotional state (a depressed mood). Adult women are diagnosed with adjustment disorder twice as often as adult men.
It is a significant contributor to problems at home, at work, and/or at school since this stress-related condition results in abnormal levels of stress experience because of unexpected or stressful events. Common triggers include major life changes or events like the death of a family member or close friend, the loss of a job, problems at work, moving house, or moving for school.
While these events can be stressful for most people, many find ways to adjust within a few months, but for those with an adjustment disorder, the transition may not be as short or as smooth. When untreated, AjD may cause reactions which result in prolonged depression or anxiety. Treatment is available, and AjD can often come to a fruitful conclusion in a short time frame, drastically reducing or eliminating the debilitating symptoms.
Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder:
Adjustment disorder impacts how we think and feel about the world and about ourselves, and symptoms vary by the type of adjustment disorder and by the person.
Symptom duration:
Symptoms can surface within three months of a trigger event, and the length of time a person may have symptoms of AjD typically falls into one of two categories:
- Acute. Symptoms can last up to six months and generally diminish when stressors are removed.
- Persistent (chronic). Symptoms last beyond six months and continue to cause disruption and stress.
Examples of Adjustment Disorder symptoms include:
Causes of Adjustment Disorder:
Causes of Adjustment disorder include genetics, an individual’s temperament, major life changes, or stressful events. Life events which can contribute to an increased chance of developing an Adjustment Stress Disorder may either be positive or negative.
Examples include:
In addition to singular triggers or stressors, events can also be ongoing — like medical issues for oneself of loved ones, feeling unsafe in one’s neighborhood, etc.
Types of Adjustment disorders:
The American Psychiatric Association lists six different types of adjustment disorders in its evidence-based manual for the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders called the DSM-5.
DSM stands for “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” and it lists the unique signs and symptoms that are related to Adjustment disorders.
Disorder types and their symptoms include:
Treatment for Adjustment Disorder:
The duration of treatment is often brief but can last for longer in people with persistent or chronic adjustment disorder, particularly if the stressor is ongoing.
Treatment for adjustment disorder can be highly effective and includes therapies such as:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or talk therapy, as it is also called, is the main treatment and can be a source of emotional support. Therapy includes education about the condition, how and why it impacted the client, what successful coping mechanisms look like, and how to get back on one’s feet. Sessions are available as family, group, or individual therapy.
To treat symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be included for a time as part of a more comprehensive treatment plan for AjD. If prescribed, their use, dosage, and a plan for how and when to come off them must be followed strictly
Diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder:
For a diagnosis of adjustment disorder to be made, a stressful life event causing the disorder is necessary. AjD symptoms start showing up within three months of a stressful life event, and they last for fewer than six months providing the stressor is gone; but if the stress is ongoing, adjustment disorder can persist and become chronic.
AjD is not considered as a potential diagnosis when symptoms are more in line with bereavement or grief processing.
AjD is considered as a potential diagnosis when:
Adjustment Disorder complications:
The complications of adjustment disorder include:
Medications for Adjustment Disorder:
Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be added to help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
As with therapy, medications may only be needed for a few months, but stopping any medication without talking with a doctor first must be avoided. If stopped suddenly, some medications, such as certain antidepressants, may cause withdrawal-like symptoms.
Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder:
Adjustment disorder impacts how we think and feel about the world and about ourselves, and symptoms vary by the type of adjustment disorder and by the person.
Symptom duration:
Symptoms can surface within three months of a trigger event, and the length of time a person may have symptoms of AjD typically falls into one of two categories:
- Acute. Symptoms can last up to six months and generally diminish when stressors are removed.
- Persistent (chronic). Symptoms last beyond six months and continue to cause disruption and stress.
Examples of Adjustment Disorder symptoms include:
Causes of Adjustment Disorder:
Causes of Adjustment disorder include genetics, an individual’s temperament, major life changes, or stressful events. Life events which can contribute to an increased chance of developing an Adjustment Stress Disorder may either be positive or negative.
Examples include:
In addition to singular triggers or stressors, events can also be ongoing — like medical issues for oneself of loved ones, feeling unsafe in one’s neighborhood, etc.
Types of Adjustment disorders:
The American Psychiatric Association lists six different types of adjustment disorders in its evidence-based manual for the assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders called the DSM-5.
DSM stands for “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” and it lists the unique signs and symptoms that are related to Adjustment disorders.
Disorder types and their symptoms include:
Treatment for Adjustment Disorder:
The duration of treatment is often brief but can last for longer in people with persistent or chronic adjustment disorder, particularly if the stressor is ongoing.
Treatment for adjustment disorder can be highly effective and includes therapies such as:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or talk therapy, as it is also called, is the main treatment and can be a source of emotional support. Therapy includes education about the condition, how and why it impacted the client, what successful coping mechanisms look like, and how to get back on one’s feet. Sessions are available as family, group, or individual therapy.
To treat symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be included for a time as part of a more comprehensive treatment plan for AjD. If prescribed, their use, dosage, and a plan for how and when to come off them must be followed strictly
Diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder:
For a diagnosis of adjustment disorder to be made, a stressful life event causing the disorder is necessary. AjD symptoms start showing up within three months of a stressful life event, and they last for fewer than six months providing the stressor is gone; but if the stress is ongoing, adjustment disorder can persist and become chronic.
AjD is not considered as a potential diagnosis when symptoms are more in line with bereavement or grief processing.
AjD is considered as a potential diagnosis when:
Adjustment Disorder Complications:
The complications of adjustment disorder include:
Medications for Adjustment Disorder:
Medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be added to help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
As with therapy, medications may only be needed for a few months, but stopping any medication without talking with a doctor first must be avoided. If stopped suddenly, some medications, such as certain antidepressants, may cause withdrawal-like symptoms.