For a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, a person's symptoms must be severe enough to affect his or her work or social life. Some of the symptoms include:

• Agitation
• Conduct disturbances
• Depressed mood
• Palpitations
• Physical complaints
• Trembling or twitching

Symptoms of adjustment disorder typically begin within 3 months of the stressor, and usually do not last longer than 6 months, unless the stressor continues to be present (such as an illness or living in a dangerous neighborhood).

On occasion, symptoms can be severe and the person may have thoughts of suicide or make a suicide attempt.

The following criteria need to be met to establish a diagnosis:

• The symptoms clearly follow a stressor
• The symptoms are more severe than would be expected
• There do not appear to be other underlying disorders
• The symptoms are not part of normal grieving for the death of a loved one

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Adjustment disorder Overview

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Adjustment disorder Treatment

Review Date: 02/14/2010
Reviewed By: Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)