Acute stress reaction, adjustment disorder

Acute stress disorder (ASD) (F43.0)

 * Stressor: same as in PTSD (see PTSD for more information)
 * can progress into PTSD, especially if left untreated
 * according to the DSM-V there are various criteria that need to be met in order to diagnose it
 * Time: > 3 days but < 1 month (PTSD > 1 month)
 * Specific symptoms (at least 9 out of 14) in the category of intrusive thoughts, negative emotions, arousal, avoidance and dissociation
 * Intrusion: intrusive thoughts: flashbacks, intrusive thoughts (recollection of psychotraumatic events)
 * Negative effect on mood and cognition: distorted memories, negative thoughts or expectations, constant negative emotions
 * Dissociation
 * avoidance: e.g. not talking about it, not going to the place
 * arousal: irritability (not anxiety, angry outbursts), hypervigilance, sleep disturbance

Adjustment disorder (AD) (F43.2)

 * Stressor
 * usually non-life threatening (not PTSD) → mood change (but not mood disorder), no grief → therefore a diagnosis of exclusion
 * Examples
 * break-up (marriage, long relationship), children moving out of home, getting fired from the job
 * Symptoms and Diagnostic criteria
 * mood or behavioral changes that do not fit the criteria of other mental disorders (e.g. Major depressive episode, dysthymia, general anxiety disorder)
 * reaction is disproprotionate to the expected response to the trigger (e.g. losing job)
 * occurs within 3 months of onset of the stress, lasting less than 6 months