ABSTRACT
As implied by the name, an adjustment disorder is a maladaptive and symptomatic response to specific and identifiable stressors in an individual's life. There must be some indication that the maladaptive pattern is related temporally to the onset of the stressors. This is concretely defined in DSM-III-R as the onset of symptoms (of up to six-months duration) within three months after the stressor. Typical stressors of serious moment to individuals in our culture include divorce or other marital difficulty, occupational difficulties, health problems, and stress brought on by developmental events such as becoming a parent or retirement. Symptoms which are typical in reaction to such stressors include anxiety, depression, physical complaints, and inappropriate behavior which violates the rights of others.
