Assignment: Adjustment Disorder

Assignment: Adjustment Disorder
Assignment: Adjustment Disorder
Assignment
· Explain the difference between an adjustment disorder and anxiety disorder. Provide examples to illustrate your rationale.
· Explain the diagnostic criteria for your assigned anxiety disorder. Which is “Generalized Anxiety Disorder”
· Explain the evidenced-based psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatment for your assigned anxiety disorder. Which is “Generalized Anxiety Disorder”
· Compare differential diagnostic features of anxiety disorder
· Support your rationale with recent references (<5yrs) to the Learning Resources or other academic resource. Learning Resources Required Readings Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. · Chapter 9, “Anxiety Disorders” (pp. 387–417) · Chapter 11, “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders” (pp. 437–451) Gabbard, G. O. (2014). Gabbard’s treatment of psychiatric disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publications. · Chapter 16, “Panic Disorder” · Chapter 18, “Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)” · Chapter 19, “Generalized Anxiety Disorder” · Chapter 20, “Specific Phobia”. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. · “Anxiety Disorders” · “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders” Stahl, S. M. (2014). Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. To access information on specific medications, click on The Prescriber’s Guide, 5th Ed. tab on the Stahl Online website and select the appropriate medication. People who are experiencing severe anxiety as a result of changing circumstances in their lives may be unsure whether they are experiencing a natural reaction to the shift or the beginnings of an anxiety disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). To make matters even more complicated, GAD is sometimes confused with other mental health conditions such as adjustment disorder. The distinctions between generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorders should be understood. What Is GAD and How Does It Affect You? Significant, persistent, and uncontrollable anxiety and worry over a wide range of events and items are important indicators of GAD. Your anxiety will be all-consuming and out of proportion to the situation—yet it could be triggered by nothing at all. You may have the impression that calamity is just around the corner. You’re probably described as a “worrier” or “nervous” by your friends and family. If you have GAD, for example, you could request that your loved ones phone you when they get home. You might assume they’ve been in a car accident if they don’t phone you. You might be concerned about your credit card being stolen or someone following you while you go shopping or out to lunch. Some folks may think you’re crazy for being so nervous every day. GAD can make you physically ill. You may suffer anxiety-related bodily symptoms such as: Concentration problems Headaches Insomnia sIrritability Problems with memory Tension in the muscles causes stress. GAD can be incredibly debilitating, preventing you from enjoying everyday life and jeopardizing your relationships. What Is Adjustment Disorder and How Does It Affect You? When people go through a huge life change, they might react in a variety of ways. The stress of these changes can sometimes result in major emotional or behavioral changes that interfere with daily functioning. If this is the case, the person may be suffering from adjustment disorder, which is characterized by a collection of symptoms that appear within three months of a shift and might include severe anxiety. Worry, uneasiness, anxiety, and irritability are common symptoms of adjustment disorder with anxiety, which are often triggered by a specific event. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of adjustment disorder:1 Concentration problems Crying all the time Feeling a little overwhelmed? Are you depressed or hopeless? Having difficulty doing routine daily tasks Withdrawing from friends or activities is a common symptom of depression. Traumatic circumstances, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a career, can set off adjustment disorder. It can have a substantial influence on your capacity to handle everyday obligations, and in some situations, it can lead to suicidal or self-harming thoughts. How to Distinguish the Two People with GAD frequently have a long and continuous history of anxiety and worry about a wide range of issues. People with adjustment disorder, on the other hand, only have symptoms when they are stressed or going through a transition. People can have both conditions, and change and adjusting to new habits can exacerbate GAD. As they adjust to a life change, those with adjustment disorder often see a significant reduction in anxiety, whereas those with GAD experience anxiety on a continuous basis. Whether you have GAD or adjustment disorder, it’s crucial to know that help is available and that you may recover. Seeing a qualified therapist can assist you in managing your symptoms and learning coping techniques that you can apply in your daily life. A mix of therapy and anti-anxiety drugs may be able to help you regain control in some circumstances.