Question

What qualifies for an adjustment disorder? How does this differ from an anxiety disorder or a depression?

Must use DSM5 criteria

Answer 1

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) defines Adjustment Disorder as “the presence of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor, which occurred within three months of the beginning of the stressor.In addition, one or both of the following criteria must exist:

• Distress that is out of proportion with the expected reactions to the stressor.
• Symptoms must be clinically significant. They cause severe distress and impairment in functioning.

In addition, the following criteria must be present:

• The distress and impairment are related to the stressor and not because of an intensification of existing mental health disorders.
• The reaction isn’t part of normal bereavement.
• When the stressor is removed or the individual has begun to adjust and cope, the symptoms subside within six months.

​Adjustment disorder differ from an anxiety disorder or a depression in the following ways:

• People with adjustment disorder have symptoms only at the time of stress where as people with anxiety disorder have symptoms for prolonged time and have history of persistent anxiety.
• As the people with adjustment disorder adapt to change in lifestyle, they experience improvement by reduction in their anxiety where as people with anxiety disorder do not.

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