What kind of diagnosis in a case of mobbing: post-traumatic stress disorder or adjustment disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) differ from almost every other psychiatric diagnosis in that they may only be diagnosed with reference to an aetiological event – an external traumatic stressor. ASD occurs immediately after the stressor and is comparatively short-lived, while PTSD is a prolonged abnormal response that may take months to develop. The types of stressor leading to ASD and PTSD are identical and were intended to be tightly defined, involving a perceived threat of death, serious injury or loss of physical integrity.It is useful initially to distinguish ASD and PTSD from adjustment disorders, which are also diagnosed only after an observable life event. An adjustment disorder may be thought of as a gradual and prolonged response to stressful changes in a person's life. The range of stressors precipitating an adjustment disorder is potentially much broader than that precipitating ASD or PTSD, as a threat of death or injury is not needed.Indeed, a ‘threat’ as such is not needed, as the event may be a loss. Events such as job loss or the breakup of a relationship may lead to an adjustment disorder, as well as threats such as accidents or assaults. The diagnostic criteria for adjustment disorder do not specify what the immediate response, if any, to the precipitating stressor must be.

Download Full-text

Predicting transitions between longitudinal classes of post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol of a latent transition model in a general Dutch sample

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055696 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. e055696

Author(s):

Lonneke Lenferink ◽

Joanne Mouthaan ◽

Anna M Fritz ◽

Suzan Soydas ◽

Marloes Eidhof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Adjustment Disorder ◽

Well Being ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Studies ◽

Post Traumatic

BackgroundA growing body of literature shows profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, among which increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AD). However, current research efforts have largely been unilateral, focusing on psychopathology and not including well-being, and are dominated by examining average psychopathology levels or on disorder absence/presence, thereby ignoring individual differences in mental health. Knowledge on individual differences, as depicted by latent subgroups, in the full spectrum of mental health may provide valuable insights in how individuals transition between health states and factors that predict transitioning from resilient to symptomatic classes. Our aim is to (1) identify longitudinal classes (ie, subgroups of individuals) based on indicators of PTSD, AD and well-being in response to the pandemic and (2) examine predictors of transitioning between these subgroups.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a three-wave longitudinal online survey study of n≥2000 adults from the general Dutch population. The first measurement occasion takes place 6 months after the start of the pandemic, followed by two follow-up measurements with 6 months of intervals. Latent transition analysis will be used for data analysis.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from four Dutch universities. Longitudinal study designs are vital to monitor mental health (and predictors thereof) in the pandemic to develop preventive and curative mental health interventions. This study is carried out by researchers who are board members of the Dutch Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and is part of a pan-European study (initiated by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies) examining the impact of the pandemic in 11 countries. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at conferences, via newsletters, and media appearance among (psychotrauma) professionals and the general public.

Download Full-text

Adjustment disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder

Primary Child and Adolescent Mental Health ◽

10.4324/9781315376851-8 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 117-136

Author(s):

Quentin Spender ◽

Judith Barnsley ◽

Alison Davies ◽

Jenny Murphy

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Adjustment Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic

Download Full-text

QOLP-34. EVALUATING ADJUSTMENT DISORDER AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi190-vi190

Author(s):

Alec Gibson ◽

Jerome Graber

Keyword(s):

Brain Tumor ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Adjustment Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Tumor Patients ◽

Whitney Test ◽

Mann Whitney Test ◽

Post Traumatic

Abstract Patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors are particularly susceptible to psychiatric comorbidities. Adjustment disorder (AD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are particularly prevalent in cancer patients and benefit from focused treatment; however, few studies have assessed these conditions in both brain tumor patients and their caregivers. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of cancer-related AD and PTSD in both brain tumor patients and caregivers, including patients with gliomas, meningiomas, metastases and other brain tumor types. Patients and caregivers at the University of Washington’s Alvord Brain Tumor Center completed modified ADNM-20 and PCL-5 questionnaires to screen for cancer-related AD and PTSD, respectively. Cutoff scores for a positive screen were set at 47.5 for the ADNM-20 and 33 for the PCL-5. A total of 11 patients and 5 caregivers completed both surveys between December 2019 and May 2021. Two caregivers (40%) screened positive for AD, while none of the brain tumor patients met the cutoff score. One brain tumor patient (9%) screened positive for PTSD, while no caregivers had a positive score. Mean ADNM-20 scores were 34.9 (± 8.8) for brain tumor patients and 34.2 (± 14.8) for caregivers (p = 0.890, Mann-Whitney test). Mean PCL-5 scores were 15.3 (± 10.5) for brain tumor patients and 16.6 (± 11.2) for caregivers (p = 0.681, Mann-Whitney test). Mean scores for ADNM-20 and PCL-5 did not differ between groups, confirming that both caregivers and patients are psychologically affected, and 2 out of 5 caregivers screened positive for AD while 1 out of 11 brain tumor patients screened positive for PTSD. These results demonstrate that cancer-related AD and PTSD can be identified in these populations and suggest a difference in these psychiatric conditions between patients and caregivers. Identifying patients and their caregivers with AD and PTSD could improve their quality of life.

Download Full-text