Trauma and stressor-related disorders 2: Adjustment disorders

Abstract

“Trauma and stressor-related disorders include disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is listed specifically as a diagnostic criterion. These include reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and other stress and trauma related disorders.” (American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition p. 265) (DSM-5). This chapter focuses on the seminal changes made in the last four of these disorders from the DSM-IV-TR to the recently published DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 4th Edition). Furthermore, there is a greater focus on the adjustment disorders (AD) for this handbook.