adjustment disorder

Introduction

Anxiety or depression about a single stressful event.

Clinical manifestations

• develops within 3 months & resolves within 6 months of stressful event
• symptoms are too mild to meet criteria for major depression
• symptoms too transient to meet criteria for dysthymia

Diagnostic criteria

DSM IV criteria:

• development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressor within 3 months of onset of stressor
  • death of spouse
  • military deployment of a son overseas
  • chronic illness
• symptoms are clinically significant as evidenced by marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected from exposure to stressor or there is significant impairment in social or occupational functioning
• predominant symptom is depressed mood
• generally milder symptoms than major depressive disorder

Management

• usually resolves without medications with resolution of acute stressor

More general terms

• mood disorder
• psychosocial stress

More specific terms

• bereavement

Additional terms

• dysthymia
• major depression