Getting Over Adjustment Disorder Through Support Networks And Multi-Tiered Care

By Jamie Derivieres


Adjustment disorder leaves those who have already tolerated a significantly stressful life event in an even deeper quandary. The symptoms happen within three months of the initial stressor and include a sense of despair, inability to enjoy past activities, concentration failures, suicidality and sadness. It is an entirely different diagnosis than anxiety disorder, depression and post traumatic stress syndrome.

The issue occurs when a person cannot process a stressful event. Its alternative name is situational depression because there are similarities between these two issues. There is a significant difference between the two, however. Unipolar depression is usually a result of internal imbalances and coping problems occur due to external stressors.

Responses of patients to the life event at hand are seen as disproportionate to the event itself. Once the stressor is gone, the symptoms improve within six months if the patient adapts. Treatment is imperative due to the suicide risk commonly suffered by patients.

Substance abuse and self harm often coexist with the syndrome. Adults tend to make a better recovery than adolescents. Those younger than twenty sometimes develop more serious psychiatric diseases after suffering adjustment problems. This risk makes medication and psychotherapy crucial considerations for treatment.

Patient's therapy should entail an assessment of the life event that caused the problem with a view towards resolution of the event itself. The way the patient interprets that event is even more important. This interpretation needs to be looked at and processed.

Coping skills can be learned through therapy and in controlled support groups. Improving the patient's ability to cope is integral. Support systems need to be developed that include a network of friends, family, a therapist and a psychiatrist or GP. Generally, psychiatry only treats the symptoms of adjustment disorder but antidepressants and other treatments are indicated for patients with coexisting psychiatric symptoms. Antidepressants, anxiolytics and sleeping tablets are commonly suggested, depending on the symptoms suffered.




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Unknown said...

All about treatments for adjustment disorder http://adjustmentdisorders.org/treatment

16 July 2016 at 11:44

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