Diagnosing adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorder is a time-limited syndrome related to exposure to a stressor that is characterised by:

• onset of symptoms within 3 months of a psychosocial stressor
• marked distress out of proportion to the severity or intensity of the stressor
• significant impairment of social or occupational functioning
• resolution of symptoms within 6 months of the stressor, or its consequences, ending.

Additionally, adjustment disorder does not represent normal bereavement (see Grief) or meet the criteria for another identifiable psychiatric disorder (eg an anxiety disorder, major depression).

Children with adjustment disorder may exhibit behavioural problems (eg fighting, missing school, vandalising property) with or without depressive or anxiety symptoms.

If symptoms of adjustment disorder are severe and persistent, and have not responded to treatment, consider alternative diagnoses such as major depression or an anxiety disorder.