Coping with the Effects of Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood

Adjustment Disorder

Introduction

Adjustment disorder with Depressed Mood and mixed anxiety is the most common part of adjustment disorder. It includes depression and anxiety in response to stressors. An adjustment disorder, which is acute, or chronic involves a long lasting reaction to a distressing and stressful situation. It can also cause severe impairment to the functioning of an individual. It includes anxiety, depression and other dysfunctions including anti social behavior. The most severe response to this stressful event is considered as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Acute Stress Disorder. Adjustment disorders either acute or chronic involves a greater than expected reaction to stressors and cause severe impairment of the characteristic function.

Definition of Adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorder (AD) is defined as emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to identifiable stressors occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressors. These symptoms or behaviours are clinically significant as evidenced by either marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected from the stressor or significant impairment of social or occupational (academic) functioning (Dubanoski, Heiby, Kameoka, 2006).This definition excludes the diagnosis if there is another disorder to which the symptoms may be attributed or if the symptoms are due to bereavement.

Coping with the disorder

DSM IV has been refered as the bible of psychiatric diagnosis as it provides the characteristics of mental disorders and how they can be coped up. The individuals according to DSM IV can be evaluated at 5 axis. Axis I defines mental disorders, Axis II defines mental disorder and personality disorder, Axis III defines physical disease conditions, Axis Iv defines environmental and psychosocial issues. Axis V is used by assess individuals overall functioning. According to DSM-IV-TR the diagnostic for disorders such as depressive include depressed mood, least interest in daily activities, sleep difficulty, weight loss , loss of energy, retardation, excessive guilt, retardation and feeling of suicide and death. The symtoms of the disorder prevails by the chronic depression which is experienced in young age. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increase with age. It is observed in many young patients. The most common comorbidities with AD are personality disorder and substance abuse disorders, which associates with poor outcome. Patients with AD are at increased risk for suicide (James, Barbara, 2005).

Psychological autopsy studies have shown that between 6% and 25% of patients who die by suicide have received a diagnosis of AD. The rates of AD in patients who present after an act of self-harm range from 4% to 10%. Suicidal ideation found to be of a more rapid onset and resolution in patients with AD than in patients with other disorders. The major cause of Adjustment disorder is stressor and the environment. It can be as a result of loved one or low grade in school. It can vary from people living in a serene environment to war like situation. The patient is diagnosed with mental disorder. The problems concerning the absence of specific diagnostic criteria for ...