Therapeutic Approaches for Adjustment Disorder

Therapeutic Approaches for Adjustment Disorder: What to Expect in Treatment

Adjustment disorder, a stress-related mental health condition, affects around 5-20% in clinical settings (e.g., primary care, post-trauma). Global estimates vary due to underdiagnosis.. It arises when an individual struggles to cope with significant life changes or stressors. Fortunately, various therapeutic approaches, ranging from psychotherapy to medication, are available to help manage its symptoms. This guide explores these treatment options and what individuals can expect during their healing journey.

Therapy Approaches for Adjustment Disorder

According to a research study, approximately 2% of the global population suffers from adjustment disorder. Now, healthcare professionals have come up with a range of different therapeutic approaches to treat adjustment disorders. The details are discussed in the following sections.

1.  Identifying Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

Identifying the symptoms of adjustment disorder is the first step to moving forward with therapeutic approaches. The origins of adjustment disorder lie in between the individual's coping mechanism and external stressors.

When life’s demands go beyond one’s ability to cope, it turns into emotional distress. The main factors that contribute to building a person's coping mechanism are an individual's innate personality trait, genetic disposition, and the availability of their support system.  

2.  Psychotherapy

Once the adjustment disorder has been diagnosed, health professionals start with psychotherapy. There are three different types of psychotherapy, these are:

1. Family Therapy : Family therapy focuses on making the necessary changes within the family in order to help the individual with adjustment disorder. Many times, communication gaps among family members and the unavailability of support trigger a sense of insecurity and anxiety. So, working on improving internal communication within the family and increasing support could be beneficial in managing the symptoms of adjustment disorder.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or talk therapy : This type of therapy is specifically designed to improve the patient's coping mechanism. Using talk therapy, their communication skills advance. They learn to share their feelings verbally and talk about their emotions without feeling any obstruction. In addition, therapists give them different kinds of scenarios to evaluate the patient's problem-solving skills. This boosts their confidence and eventually, they learn to manage their anger and stress.  
3. Peer Group Therapy : Peer group theory has been specifically effective for children and adolescents. Researchers often find that when young people struggle to bond within their preferred peer group, they feel anxiety. By establishing a safe and secure environment where peers can share their views and opinions, this type of therapy improves social and interpersonal skills within a peer group. Depending on the intensity of the symptoms, the duration of these therapies varies. Healthcare professionals also make it a point to keep the stressful triggers at a minimum to maximise the impact of these therapies.  

3. Medications

Although there is no particular medicine that could treat adjustment disorder, doctors keep an eye out for the symptoms. Patients with major depression often become suicidal. Therefore, to control these severe emotions, medical professionals prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and so on.

It is difficult to prevent the causes that lead to adjustment disorders, but taking baby steps towards reducing the stress and being adaptive to change will go a long way. Experts recommend that patients practice self-care, maintain a healthy lifestyle and build a strong support system that could benefit the body and mind.