An adjustment disorder has its onset within 3 months of the identifiable stressor. Symptoms generally do not last longer than 6 months. There are several types of adjustment disorders that are all reactions to stressors, but the behavior or mood manifestations differ. People diagnosed with adjustment disorders do not have an underlying history of another psychiatric illness, or do not have a prior history of repeated overreaction to stress . Adjustment disorders are caused by a disruption of the normal process of adaptation to stressful life experiences.
Psychological symptoms result from disruption of normal functioning caused by the stress.
Symptoms may take many forms. Some people react as if the stressful event never occurred and are isolated or removed from it. In others, the event becomes so intrusive that they are unable to eat or sleep. It is the persistence of unwanted emotions or images and the inability to control them that distinguish the adjustment disorder from normal adaptation. Contributing factors to the disorder are the stressors, the situational context in which the stressors occur, and intrapersonal factors relating to the affected person.