User:Donuts11112/Adjustment disorder

Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder is a maladaptive response to a psychosocial stressor and is classified as a mental disorder. The maladaptive response usually involves otherwise normal emotional and behavioral reactions that manifest more intensely than usual (considering contextual and cultural factors), causing marked distress, preoccupation with the stressor and its consequences, and functional impairment.

Diagnosis of Adjustment disorder is common. Lifetime prevalence estimates for adults range from five percent to 21%. Adult women are diagnosed twice as often as men. Among children and adolescents, girls and boys are equally likely to be diagnosed with an adjustment disorder.

Adjustment disorder was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980 (DSM-III)

Other names for adjustment disorder are stress response syndrome (new name as of 2013) and situational depression since it is one of the most common symptoms.

Subtypes and Their Symptoms
Adjustment disorder has six different subtypes, and they are all based on what the main symptoms are.

Those subtypes are as follows:


 * With depressed mood: depression, hopelessness, lack of interest or joy from previously enjoyed hobbies, tearfulness
 * With anxiety: anxiousness, being overwhelmed, trouble concentrating, worry, separation anxiety (common in children)
 * With anxiety and depressed mood: combination of symptoms from both subtypes above
 * With disturbance of conduct: acting destructive, reckless behavior, rebellious
 * With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct: combination of symptoms from both subtypes above
 * Unspecified: symptoms that do not fall into above subtypes; often include physical symptoms and withdrawal from everyday activities

Treatment
Adjustment disorder sufferers with depressive or anxiety symptoms may benefit from treatments usually used for depressive or anxiety disorders. The use of different therapies can be beneficial for any age group. There is also a list of medications that can be used to help people with adjustment disorder whose symptoms are too severe for therapy alone. If a person is considering taking medication, they should talk to their doctor.

Specific treatment is based off of factors of each individual separately. These factors include but are not limited to age, severity of symptoms, type of adjustment disorder, and personal preference.

Different ways to help with the disorder include:


 * Individual Psychotherapy
 * Family Therapy
 * Peer Group Therapy
 * Medication (used only when the symptoms are severe or with a doctors approval)

In addition to professional help, parents and caregivers can help their children with their difficulty adjusting by:


 * offering encouragement to talk about their emotions
 * offering support and understanding
 * reassuring the child that their reactions are normal
 * involving the child's teachers to check on their progress in school
 * letting the child make simple decisions at home, such as what to eat for dinner or what show to watch on TV
 * having the child engage in a hobby or activity they enjoy