Wellspring Therapy Center, Carlsbad, CA : Adjustment Disorder Therapy

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Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment Disorder refers to a reaction to one or more identifiable stressors that occurs within 3 months of when the stressors started. The reaction is excessive compared to a normal reaction to the stressors, and/or results in impaired functioning. The response might be to one stressor or many, and the stress may occur once (a flood or fire, marriage, divorce, going away to school, new job) or often (child witnessing parents constantly fighting) (Morrison, 1995).

Adjustment Disorder often comes occurs with one of the following: Depressed Mood (patient is tearful, sad, hopeless); Anxiety (patient is nervous, fearful, worried); Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood; Disturbance of Conduct (patient violates rules or rights of others); Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct; Unspecified (problems related to job, physical complaints, social isolation) (American Psychiatric Association, 1994; Morrison, 1995).

Adjustment Disorders are associated with higher risk of suicide and suicidal behavior; abuse of substances; prolonging of other medical disorders or interference with their treatment.

Symptoms

Hopelessness

Frequent crying

Depressed mood

Impaired occupational/social functioning

Agitation

Trembling or twitching

Palpitations

Conduct disturbances

Physical complaints

Withdrawal

Occupational functioning is decreased

Anxiety, stress, and tension

***Note: Symptoms may vary widely, but duration is usually less than 6 months.
The person may or may not be aware of the stressor causing the disturbance.

Diagnosis depends on the following:

Within 3 months of stressor, emotional and behavior symptoms develop in response to stressor
Symptoms seem excessive in relation to stressor OR symptoms significantly impair occupational, school or social functioning
Symptoms not explained by another diagnosis
Symptoms are not part of bereavement
Symptoms do not last longer than 6 months after end of stressor
The diagnosis may be Acute (symptoms lasting less than 6 months) or Chronic (symptoms lasting 6 months or longer as when stressors are chronic or have lasting effects)

(American Psychiatric Association, 1994; Morrison, 1995)

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Wellspring Therapy Center | 2945 Harding Street Suite # 110, Carlsbad, CA 92008 | Ph: (760) 730-3939