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Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorder (AD): People with Adjustment Disorders may have had a significant life stressor with an impact on their mood and how they function. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5), it is the Development of emotional/behavioral symptoms due to an identifiable stressor(s) and occurring within 3 months of onset of stressor(s) and usually lasts no longer than 6 months after the stressor or the consequence has stopped. Symptoms are not the result of another mental health disorder or part of normal grieving.

Adjustment Disorder may manifest in various types including:

  • With depressed mood—feelings of depression, tearfulness, or feelings of hopelessness
  • With anxiety—nervousness, worry, or jitteriness, or, in children, fears of separation from major attachment figures.
  • With mixed anxiety and depressed mood—a combination of depression and anxiety
  • With disturbance of conduct—there is violation of the rights of others, major age-appropriate societal norms, and rules.
  • With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct

Unspecified includes maladaptive reactions that are not classified as one of the other subtypes.

Risk Factors to AD may include but are not limited to:

      • Younger age
      • High rate of stressors
      • Other mental health problems
      • Unstable family environment, divorce
      • Military service
      • Natural disasters
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