Adjustment disorder is a stress-response condition in which clinically significant emotional or behavioral symptoms develop in reaction to an identifiable psychosocial stressor, typically emerging within three months of the stressor and resolving once the stressor or its consequences abate. The disturbance is marked…
Adjustment disorder is a stress-response condition in which clinically significant emotional or behavioral symptoms develop in reaction to an identifiable psychosocial stressor, typically emerging within three months of the stressor and resolving once the stressor or its consequences abate. The disturbance is marked by distress out of proportion to the event or by meaningful impairment in functioning, while not meeting criteria for another specific mental disorder such as major depression or an anxiety or post-traumatic disorder. Presentations are subtyped by predominant features, including depressed mood, anxiety, mixed emotional disturbance, disturbance of conduct, or combinations of these. Common precipitants include bereavement, illness, relationship breakdown, occupational change such as unemployment, migration and displacement, and other major life transitions, with vulnerability shaped by coping capacity, social support, and prior stress exposure. Mechanistically, the disorder reflects difficulty adapting to change and dysregulated stress responses, and it can elevate risk for hopelessness and suicidal ideation when distress is severe or unsupported. Assessment emphasizes the temporal link to the stressor, symptom course, and functional impact, distinguishing adjustment disorder from normal stress reactions and from established psychiatric syndromes. Management focuses on psychological interventions that strengthen coping and problem-solving, supportive and combined therapies, and stress-reduction strategies, with pharmacotherapy used selectively. Research examines its determinants, course, and treatment across populations affected by adversity and social disruption.
6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 6 articles above have been cited 21 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Adjustment Disorder, linking to each citing work.