Adult: adjustment disorder, its symptoms and causes

Adjustment Disorder in adults is an anomalistic and extreme response to an marked stressor in life. The response is more serious than would ordinarily be anticipated, and can lead to substantial degradation in social, professional or academical performance.

The result may be linked to one occasion (a flooding or fire, wedding, divorce, beginning school, new occupation) or multiple occasions (married issues or serious company issues). Stressor may be a reflexive event (kid watching parents always fighting, chemotherapy, fiscal problems) or constant .

  • Adjustment disorder in adults often call as “situational depression”
  • Blue mood
  • Derogative social function
  • Agitation
  • Palpitations
  • Actions interference (for example, absence from work, vandalism, dangerous driving, fightings)
  • Withdrawal
  • Worry, anxiety

Note: Symptoms may fluctuate extensively. The individual might or might not know about the stressor causing the interference.

Treatment of adjustment disorder in adults

The primary aim of treatment would be to alleviate symptoms and help the individual reach a degree of performance similar to it prior to the stressful event.

Doctors advise psychosocial treatment, like behavior therapy, family therapy, individual psychotherapy or self-help groups. Practical targets must be made at the beginnin of treatment, as the duration of adjustment disorder is brief period.

Family therapy together with powerful connections and coping with pressure abilities may be recommended for instances where the patient is young (child, youth). It's in attachment to psychosocial treatment when drugs are used. Prescription drugs may be useful in calming the stress related to adjustment disorder or the depression. Nevertheless, treatment of adjustment disorders in adults generally excludes use of drugs.

Most individuals recover without any lasting symptoms if they have access to secure societal support and don't have any prior history of mental illness. People experiencing adjustment disorders have to work to expand and keep a powerful social support system and sleep routines, along with healthful diets.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of adjustment disorder. Diagnostics.

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DSM codes

Read more about adjustment disorder codes (DSM). Table of codes here.