Adjustment Disorder

Although adjustment disorders (AD) have been included in the major psychiatric diagnostic classifications for over 50 years, no book devoted solely to the topic of AD's has been published to date. Apart from scant coverage in psychiatric textbooks, there is little to assist the doctor or therapist in understanding or making a diagnosis of AD. The result is the under-recognition of AD's in settings where it is believed to be a common condition. In general practice, where AD's are said to be the most common disorder, they are seldom recognized and are misdiagnosed as depressive illness (major depressive disorder) or generalized anxiety disorder. Even among psychiatrists, AD's are underdiagnosed, except in consultation-liaison psychiatry, and even there, changes in diagnostic practice are afoot. Adjustment Disorder: From Controversy to Clinical Practice provides concise and comprehensive information on AD's and advances a greater understanding and better diagnostic skills among those clinicians working with this group of patients. This accessible and clinically driven book is amplified by up-to-date theoretical information such as exploring the psychobiology of AD's, considering the best evidence-based treatments, and touching on the philosophical questions that AD's raise, such as whether AD's are actually a disease. The chapters follow a natural progression beginning with the history and controversies, through to epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, then addressing the biology of AD's and concluding with an examination of AD's in special groups such as children and adolescents as well as in medico-legal settings.

The definitive treatment textbook in psychiatry, this fifth edition of Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders has been thoroughly restructured to reflect the new DSM-5® categories, preserving its value as a state-of-the-art resource and increasing its utility in the field. The editors have produced a volume that is both comprehensive and concise, meeting the needs of clinicians who prefer a single, user-friendly volume. In the service of brevity, the book focuses on treatment over diagnostic considerations, and addresses both empirically-validated treatments and accumulated clinical wisdom where research is lacking. Noteworthy features include the following: Content is organized according to DSM-5® categories to make for rapid retrieval of relevant treatment information for the busy clinician. Outcome studies and expert opinion are presented in an accessible way to help the clinician know what treatment to use for which disorder, and how to tailor the treatment to the patient. Content is restricted to the major psychiatric conditions seen in clinical practice while leaving out less common conditions and those that have limited outcome research related to the disorder, resulting in a more streamlined and affordable text. Chapters are meticulously referenced and include dozens of tables, figures, and other illustrative features that enhance comprehension and recall. An authoritative resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses, and an outstanding reference for students in the mental health professions, Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Fifth Edition, will prove indispensable to clinicians seeking to provide excellent care while transitioning to a DSM-5® world.

We all have to deal with stress sometimes. Learning to balance our many responsibilities, adjust to new situations, and handle multiple stresses is part of life. But does this mean that you should feel stressed all the time? What if you always feel overwhelmed? What if you simply can't adjust to a new challenge or situation? When the normal challenges of life cause such extreme emotional turmoil that a person cannot adapt and react appropriately, he may be suffering from an adjustment disorder. Those who suffer from adjustment disorders find it particularly difficult to adapt and function in their daily environments. Perhaps they are dealing with a loss or change in life, such as divorce, moving, a new baby, or an end to a relationship. Perhaps they overreact to minor stresses or have anxiety, depression, or conduct disorders that interrupt their normal life functions. When their inability to cope becomes a mental illness, people need help from medical professionals to gain control of their lives again. In Adjustment Disorders, you will learn about the antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs available to treat adjustment disorders. Along the way, you will read about the history of psychiatric drugs, how they work, and current treatment methods. You will also read valuable information about what to expect when taking psychiatric drugs, as well as some of the most prevalent alternatives to drug treatment. Sharing the experiences of young people as they cope with divorce, disappointment, moving, depression, and anxiety may help you understand how such changes can affect your life as well...and where to turn if your reactions to these changes get out of control.

Many veterans come home from service excited and ready to conquer the world. They return to their families with a drive to move their lives forward. It feels good for a while. Everyone is happy to see them, and theyre proud of their service. Then something odd happens. Everything they thought would materialize doesnt quite take shape. They go from hero to zero. In PSAD Post Service Adjustment Disorder, author and former Marine Daniel E. Valdez addresses and identifies specific adjustment issues all military personnel and their families experience upon release from active duty. He offers a basic, step-by-step map showing how an individual can serve their country, succeed in the military, and then have their life fall apart when they come home, a component of veteran transition often overlooked by professionals. He also identifies ways both veterans and civilians view each other that often leads to divide and miscommunication. Formulated from more than fifteen years of collecting and recording various forms of testimonies, interviews, therapy, counseling, group discussions, rehabilitation, recovery, ministry work, and Faith-based retreats, Valdez gives meaning to the phenomenon of Post Service Adjustment Disorder and offers solutions. Insightful and practical, PSAD Post Service Adjustment Disorder is filled with sober wisdom regarding issues military veterans have upon reentering civilian life.

Trauma, stress, and manmade and natural disasters are increasingly impacting individuals and communities. The clinical and scientific advances presented here strive to address the rapidly expanding individual and community burden of disease resulting from the experience of traumatic or stressful events. The authors describe the suffering which trauma- and stressor-related disorders (TSRDs) cause, and explain in 30 concise chapters the state of the science for the DSM-5 trauma- and stressor-related disorders with regard to pathogenesis, diagnostic assessment and approach to treatment. This volume presents the genetic, neurochemical, developmental, and psychological foundations and epidemiology of the trauma- and stressor-related disorders, in addition to specific guidance on screening and evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and biological, psychological and social treatments. The chapters in this book cover a variety of TSRDs: posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorders, persistent complex bereavement disorder, and reactive attachment and disinhibited social engagement disordersd. Graphics, including neuroimaging are integrated for easy reference and to aid grasping of key concepts. The book draws on the current literature and provides brief case scenarios from individuals and families exposed to psychological or physical traumas, including mass trauma events. Factors contributing to susceptibility to these disorders and to resilience are also addressed. Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders provides an in-depth yet succinct introduction to current clinical and research knowledge for trainees and for professionals including psychotherapeutic, psychopharmacological, public health, and policy interventions. It addresses the level of evidence for different best practices to target the disabling cognitive, emotional or behavioral symptoms for a specific patient or population.

'Adjustment Disorders' provides concise and comprehensive information on adjustment disorders and advances a greater understanding and better diagnostic skills among those clinicians working with this group of patients