adjustment disorder
Meaning of adjustment disorder: Adjustment disorder involves emotional or behavioral symptoms that develop in response to an identifiable stressor and exceed an expected reaction.
Definition of adjustment disorder
Adjustment disorder is a condition in which a person develops emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressful event or change, such as an illness, job loss, relationship ending, or relocation. The symptoms are more intense or more disruptive than would typically be expected given the nature of the stressor, and they interfere with everyday functioning at work, school, or in relationships.
Symptoms can include low mood, anxiety, or a mix of both, along with behavioral changes such as withdrawal from usual activities or conflict with others, and they generally begin within a few months of the triggering event. Adjustment disorder is distinguished from an expected, proportionate reaction to a difficult event by the degree of impairment it causes and by symptoms that seem out of proportion to the stressor.
Adjustment disorder also differs from other mood or anxiety conditions in that it is specifically tied to an identifiable stressor, and it typically resolves once the stressor is removed or as the person adapts to the changed circumstances over time.
Used in a sentence
The patient was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder following a difficult diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Good to know
Adjustment disorder is distinguished from an ordinary, proportionate reaction to hardship by the degree of impairment it causes and by symptoms that exceed what would typically be expected from the stressor involved.