Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Emotional Disorders
Number of Conditions: 1
Adjustment Disorders
Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology
Category: Stress-related Disorders
Sub-category: Emotional Disorders
Symptoms:
emotional distress; irritability; anxiety; depression; behavioral changes; difficulty functioning socially or at work
Root Cause:
A maladaptive response to an identifiable stressor, leading to disproportionate emotional or behavioral symptoms.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation based on DSM-5 criteria, which includes identifying the stressor and symptoms appearing within 3 months of its onset.
Treatment:
Psychotherapy (individual or group), with an emphasis on stress management and coping strategies. Family therapy may also be beneficial.
Medications:
Antidepressants like SSRIs (e.g., fluoxetine or escitalopram ) for depressive symptoms; anxiolytics like buspirone or short-term benzodiazepines for anxiety.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Varies widely; estimated at 5-20% in outpatient mental health settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of social support, multiple stressors, history of mental health conditions, personality traits like neuroticism.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms typically resolve within 6 months after the stressor is removed or managed; good prognosis with proper treatment.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Progression to major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, or substance use disorders if untreated.