Adjustment Disorder Mental Health

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Adjustment Disorder

People will often have difficulty adjusting to stressful events in their lives that may include things such as starting a new job, ending a relationship or conflicts with work colleagues, family or friends. The result is that people may have difficulty with their mood and behaviour for some time after the event. Responses to stressful events are as varied as the stressful events themselves. People experiencing stress in their lives may be more sad or irritable than usual and experience feelings of hopelessness whilst other people may become more nervous and worried. Other individuals may experience a combination of these two emotional patterns with the symptoms associated with adjustment difficulties usually subsiding within approximately 6 months after the stressful event.

An adjustment disorder is defined as an emotional or behavioural reaction to an identifiable stressful event or change in a person’s life that is considered maladaptive or somehow not an expected healthy response to the event or change. The reaction must occur within three months of the event or change happening. The identifiable stressful event or change in the life of a child or adolescent may be a family move, parental divorce or separation, the loss of a pet etc,.

An adjustment disorder is a debilitating reaction, usually lasting less than six months, to a stressful event or situation. The development of emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor(s) occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressor(s).
Adjustment Disorder often occurs with one of the following: Depressed, Anxiety, Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood; Disturbance of Conduct, Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct or related but unspecified problems that may be related to work, physical complaints or social isolation.

The stress-related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another specific disorder. Once the stressor (or its consequences) has terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional 6 months.
Adjustment Disorders Subtypes:

• Depressed Mood
• Anxiety
• Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
• Disturbance of Conduct
• Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct
• Symptoms
• Hopelessness
• Frequent crying
• Depressed mood
• Impaired occupational/social functioning
• Agitation
• Trembling or twitching
• Palpitations
• Conduct disturbances
• Physical complaints
• Withdrawal
• Occupational functioning is decreased
• Anxiety, stress, and tension

Treatment
The primary treatment goal is to relieve symptoms and assist with achieving a level of adaptation that is comparable to the affected person’s level of functioning prior to the stressful event. Most mental health professionals recommend a form of psychosocial treatment for this disorder that may include individual psychotherapy, family therapy, behaviour therapy, and self-help groups. Realistic short-term goals should be made at the start of therapy as the course of Adjustment Disorder is short-term in nature. Goals of therapy will typically centre around other supports available to the individual in his or her life in the form of family, friends and community. The individual’s coping skills will be explored and possibly developed; and relaxation techniques are often used to help the individual deal with feelings of stress. More specific goals of treatment will include helping the individual understand his or her role in the stressful event or teaching ways to avoid such events in the future.

Who is affected by adjustment disorders?

Adjustment disorders are quite common in children and adolescents but occur equally in males and females. Adjustment disorders occur in all cultures however the underlying stressors and the signs may vary based on cultural influences. Adjustment disorders occur at all ages, however, it is generally agreed that characteristics of the disorder are different in children and adolescents than they are in adults.

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