Which disorder is defined by emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor that occur within 3 months of the stressor and are out of proportion to the severity of the stressor?

• A. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• B. Major Depressive Disorder
• C. Adjustment Disorder
• D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer: (C)

Adjustment disorder is about a reaction to a identifiable stressor that starts within three months of the event and is out of proportion to its severity, causing significant distress or impairment. The key here is the clear link to a stressor, the short (within 3 months) onset, and the reaction being excessive relative to what the stressor would typically cause, along with the impairment it produces. It’s also not better explained by another mental disorder and isn’t simply a bereavement response. This distinguishes it from PTSD, which requires a trauma exposure with more persistent, specific symptoms; from major depressive disorder, which centers on mood symptoms not strictly tied to a recent identifiable stressor; and from generalized anxiety disorder, which involves chronic, nonspecific worry over a longer period.