The primary goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and assist with achieving a level of adaptation that is comparable to the affected person's level of functioning before the stressful event. Most mental health professionals recommend a form of psychosocial treatment for this disorder. Treatments include individual psychotherapy, family therapy, behavior therapy, and self-help groups. Realistic short-term goals should be made at the start of therapy as the course of Adjustment Disorder is short-term in nature. Goals of therapy will often center around other supports available to the individual in his or her life in the form of family, friends and community. The individual's coping skills will be explored and developed. Relaxation techniques might be explored to help the individual deal with feelings of stress. More specific goals of treatment will include helping the individual understand his or her role in the stressors; teaching ways to avoid stressors in future; helping individual view stressors as chance for positive change or improvement; helpin individual place stressor in perspective with relation to overall life; helping individual understand his or her reactions to the stressors.

Family therapy might be recommended for cases in which the patient is younger (child, adolescent). When medications are used, they are usually in addition to other forms of treatment. Some prescription medication may be helpful in easing the depression or the anxiety associated with adjustment disorder. However, treatment of Adjustment Disorders usually excludes use of medication.

Most people recover in full from Adjustment Disorders if they have no previous history of mental illness and have access to a stable social support system.

It is important for these individuals to maintain and develop healthy diets and sleeping patterns as well as development and maintenance of social supports.

by Susan Dunn

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