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Review
. 2019 Jul 16;16(14):2537.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16142537.

Adjustment Disorder: Current Developments and Future Directions

Meaghan L O'Donnell  1   2 , James A Agathos  3   4 , Olivia Metcalf  3   4 , Kari Gibson  3   4 , Winnie Lau  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Adjustment Disorder: Current Developments and Future Directions

Meaghan L O'Donnell et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Despite its high prevalence in clinical and consultant liaison psychiatry populations, adjustment disorder research has traditionally been hindered by its lack of clear diagnostic criteria. However, with the greater diagnostic clarity provided in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - fifth edition (DSM-5) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th edition (ICD-11), adjustment disorder has been increasingly recognised as an area of research interest. This paper evaluates the commonalities and differences between the ICD-11 and DSM-5 concepts of adjustment disorder and reviews the current state of knowledge regarding its symptom profile, course, assessment, and treatment. In doing so, it identifies the gaps in our understanding of adjustment disorder and discusses future directions for research.

Keywords: DSM-5; ICD-11; adjustment disorder; course; diagnosis; nosology; review; symptoms; trajectory; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom trajectories over time. From Bryant et al. [37]. The red circle indicates the two trajectories of PTSD symptoms that may represent adjustment disorder trajectories.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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