Pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder: A review

Abstract

Background: Adjustment disorder has been reconceptualized as a trauma- and stressor-related condition, and there is a growing understanding of the psychobiology of stress responses. Against this context it is timely to review of the pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder. Methods: A comprehensive electronic database (Pubmed) was searched for randomised controlled trials of the pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder. Data from each trial were extracted and collated. Results: To date there have been relatively few controlled trials in this area. Comparator trials provide limited support for a number of antidepressant agents, and a series of studies indicate that etifoxine is superior to buspirone and benzodiazepines for adjustment disorder with anxiety. Conclusions: The work done has been useful insofar as it provides clinicians with some insights into the advantages and disadvantages of a number of pharmacotherapy options. Additional rigorously designed trials are needed to further advance the field.