Diagnosis information

Adjustment disorder

Core diagnostic criteria, specifiers, differential considerations, and documentation support in one open, scan-friendly view.

F43.2xTrauma & Stressor-RelatedLocal clinical reference

Criteria: 5 criteria, A–E
Specifiers: 6 specifiers
Differentials: 5 considerations
Severity specifier: Not listed

Core diagnostic criteria

All criteria are shown. No expand controls or hidden sections.

A
Core criterion A
Emotional or behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor, within 3 months of stressor onset
B
Core criterion B
Clinically significant: marked distress disproportionate to stressor severity; or significant impairment in functioning
C
Core criterion C
Stress-related disturbance does not meet criteria for another mental disorder and is not exacerbation of existing disorder
D
Core criterion D
Not simply normal bereavement
E
Core criterion E
Symptoms resolve within 6 months of stressor termination (unless chronic stressor)

Specifiers

With depressed mood: Predominant low mood, tearfulness, or hopelessness.
With anxiety: Prominent worry, nervousness, or fearfulness.
With mixed anxiety and depressed mood: Concurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms without dominance of one.
With disturbance of conduct: Behavioural disturbance violating social norms or rights of others.
With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct: Emotional symptoms accompanied by behavioural disturbance.
Unspecified: Maladaptive responses not captured by the above patterns.

Documentation support

Consistent with [Adjustment Disorder] [specifier(s)]. Within three months of identifiable psychosocial stressor(s), there have been emotional or behavioural symptoms including low mood; tearfulness; hopelessness; anxiety; worry; nervousness; irritability; anger; behavioural disturbance; social withdrawal; impairment in role functioning, forming a pattern clearly arising in response to the stressor. The presentation is further characterised by distress that is out of proportion to the severity or intensity of the stressor and a clinically significant decline in social, occupational, or interpersonal functioning, with the disturbance not persisting for more than six months after the stressor or its consequences have resolved. The picture is not better explained by another mental disorder, normal bereavement, or the effects of a substance or medical condition.

Adapt this supplied template to the assessment. It is not a substitute for diagnostic reasoning or local documentation requirements.

DSM-5 DiagnosisDSM-trm-adjustment-disorderSupplied local catalogue