Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment Disorder

Christopher H. Hodgman, MD

Basic Information

Definition

Adjustment disorder comprises emotional or behavioral symptoms occurring within 3 months of a stressor and lasting no more than 6 months after the stressor or its consequences end. Adjustment disorder involves the inability to adapt to or maladaptive reactions to identifiable stressors, leading to an inability to function normally.

Synonyms

Adjustment reaction
Situational reaction

ICD-9-CM Codes

309.00 With depressed mood
309.3 With disturbance of conduct
309.9 Adjustment disorder (unspecified)
309.24 With anxiety
309.28 With mixed anxiety and depression

Epidemiology & Demographics

• Adjustment disorders are common.
• Prevalence has been estimated at 2% to 8% in children and adolescents.
• There is no gender difference in the incidence of adjustment disorders.
• Adjustment disorders are more common in disadvantaged circumstances.

Clinical Presentation

• Inciting stressor should be evident.
• Depressed mood is common.
• Anxiety is common.
• Sleep abnormalities may exist.
• The patient should have been asymptomatic before the inciting stressor occurred.
• Physical examination results do not contribute to the diagnosis.
• Distress exceeds that expected by the nature of the stressor, or distress results in significant social, academic, or occupational impairment.

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Jun 19, 2016 | Posted by in PEDIATRICS | Comments Off on Adjustment Disorder

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