The time frame of adjustment disorder is variable. The condition usually develops some time after a stressful life event and gets better within six months of the stressor ending. 21 While this is the time frame referred to in most diagnostic manuals, others accept that some of the symptoms may persist longer, especially if the condition is caused by an ongoing stressor. Therefore, it is important to note that a person may be affected by the condition for longer than the usual time frame if the causal stressor is chronic, i.e. has long-term consequences or is itself long-lasting, for example unemployment or a severe, long lasting medical condition. 22 Adjustment disorder which is longer-lasting than usual is sometimes referred to as chronic adjustment disorder.