Overview

• Adjustment Disorder → the development of emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to stress (eg. end of relationship, moving, losing job). (NOT TRAUMATIC - UNLIKE ACUTE STRESS DISORDER).
  • Distress is often out of proportion to the event and causes functional (ie. social, occupational) impairment. NO BIOLOGICAL DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS (no impact on sleeping, appetite, energy levels, and no suicidal ideation).
  • Occurs within 1 month (weeks) of stressful event and lasts for less than 6 months.
• Prolonged Grief Reaction → persistent grief response that exceeds norms, lasting longer than 6 months. Beyond first 6-12 months of bereavement.
  • May look similar to depression, but symptoms and sadness rooted around the person that was lost.
  • Delayed onset. Greater intensity of symptoms.
  • Pseudohallucinations are normal when grieving.
    • Pseudohallucinations → patients understand what they’re seeing isn’t real.

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features

Investigations

Management Plan

• Psychosocial → support and reassurance (OFTEN ALL THAT’S NEEDED). Counselling and therapy may be useful.
• Biological → shourt course of antidepressants or benzodiazepines.

Complications →

Prognosis →