Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Adjustment Disorder
that lasts longer than what is considered normal. Events that can cause an adjustment disorder include having a serious illness, job loss, divorce, moving, leaving school, losing a pet or other life changing situations similar to these. In response to these types of events, it would be normal for someone to feel troubled or anxious. But if you’re struggling with an adjustment disorder, the severity and length of your reaction has gone beyond what is considered usual. For example, you are newly divorced, and as a result, you’ve spent the last three months on your sofa watching mindless television shows, eating, gaining weight and generally not caring about how you look or feel. Or, maybe your child recently left home to attend college and since then you’ve been so terribly worried about him or her that you haven’t been able to function at work. Keep in mind that most people are distressed or saddened by these types of events. What makes an adjustment disorder a clinical problem is the amount of time you’re affected or the severity of the distress in your life. An adjustment disorder will begin within three months of experiencing a stressful situation and will usually disappear after six months. However, if the stressful situation is ongoing, such as chronic illness, a difficult divorce, or continuing financial problems, it isn’t unusual for an adjustment disorder to last for as long as the situation remains unchanged. There is no succinct psychological definition of what an adjustment disorder will look like. In many ways an adjustment disorder may look similar to depression or anxiety. The difference is that an adjustment disorder can always be traced back to an activating circumstance or situation. By definition, if the symptoms of an adjustment disorder are caused by the death of someone you care about, your diagnosis would be defined more appropriately as “bereavement”. Is Adjustment Disorder a Common Problem? Research suggests that adjustment disorder is very common. An estimated 12% or people seeking mental health treatment in hospitals, and up to 30% of people seeking treatment at other mental health centers are facing challenges linked with adjustment disorders. The gender breakdown leans heavily toward women; with women being twice as likely to be diagnosed as men. Taking Action Generally speaking, the prognosis for those struggling with adjustment disorder is encouraging. Research has shown that people in treatment for adjustment disorder tend to need less treatment, return to work sooner, and are less likely to suffer from a relapse of the problem when compared to people with other mental health problems. But, due to the lack of research, treatment recommendations are limited. It does seem reasonable to assume, however, that many forms of psychotherapy will be effective if they help you examine your thought, emotions, and behaviors surrounding the stressful event. This will be especially true if you need help with bereavement issues. Remember by definition an adjustment disorder will not last longer than six months. Therefore, it’s possible that the problems you’re dealing might simply disappear. However, if your problems are exceptionally difficult or long lasting, you should seek immediate treatment such as psychotherapy or some type of support group therapy. Related Supplements
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