We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 4,341
Share

Adjustment disorder with anxiety occurs when a stressful event causes anxious symptoms, which are considered more severe than what would ordinarily be expected. Alternately, an event could create enough anxiety to interfere with a person's functioning in the world, like working, attending school, or maintaining relationships. There are other adjustment disorder types including those that feature depression or a combination of depression and anxiety. Any of the types should be diagnosed only when an event can be identified, and when the symptoms are not better accounted for by another condition.

The term adjustment disorder with anxiety implies the basic elements of this condition. A patient has difficulty adjusting to a recent event, which is shown by increased anxiety. An event can refer to many stressful life circumstances like losing a job, moving, retiring, or getting a divorce. Deaths of family members and friends are excluded. Symptoms of anxiety after a death are usually classified as bereavement.

Symptoms that accompany adjustment disorder with anxiety are varied. Patients may report feeling jittery, having difficulty sleeping, or being irritable. Excessive worrying or nervousness could occur. Children may have slightly different symptoms like irritability, separation anxiety, sudden hyperactivity, and poor concentration in school. In either adults or children, anxious symptoms interspersed with depressive symptoms usually change the diagnosis to adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety.

The duration of illness in adjustment disorder with anxiety varies. Some patients recover within six months, in which case, the illness is considered acute. Chronic courses lasting six months or longer are not unusual. Treatment may help shorten a course.

Therapy is the standard treatment for this condition. Some preferred models include cognitive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic work. Brief therapy is often appropriate for acute cases. More than one family member suffering from adjustment disorder due to the same event might call for family therapy. Prescription drugs may also be appropriate to reduce anxiety or address sleeplessness.

Though adjustment disorder with anxiety is often considered a minor condition, it can be associated with serious consequences. Some youths will have anxiety and conduct issues, which might cause legal problems or jeopardize school standing. In addition, adjustment disorders have been associated with elevated suicide rates. This condition requires careful observation, and early intervention with therapy and medications, as needed.

Many clinicians have trouble diagnosing adjustment disorders. They may feel that features like personality, temperament, family background, and culture all combine to influence “normal” adjustment. If this is so, it may seem presumptive to diagnose a longer period of adjustment as a disorder.

Others seize on this diagnosis first when they are uncertain if clients will go on to manifest more serious conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, or acute stress disorder. This is a less serious diagnosis and is unlikely to follow people through life. Hesitancy in diagnosing a more serious illness has its own problems, as failure to render an accurate diagnosis could lead to inadequate initial treatment.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-adjustment-disorder-with-anxiety.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.