Objective: Adjustment disorder is described in “trauma and stressor associated disorders” in DSM-V and presents with emotional and behavioral signs as a reaction against a defined stressor. Affected patients usually have poor capability of dealing with the stressors.
Methods: Preliminary results of an ongoing large-scale study in our clinic including patients with adjustment disorder are partly presented.
Results: Comparison of COPE scores between the patient group (n=121) and the control group (n=114) revealed higher dysfunctional coping attitudes scores and lower problem-based coping attitudes scores in the patient group, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Healthy control group had significantly higher coping attitudes scores in active management, planning, staying back, useful social support usage, and suppressing other activities (p<0.05). Patient group had significantly higher dysfunctional coping attitudes scores in focusing on problems, presenting emotions, and drug abuse (p<0.05). The most common coping attitudes in the patient group included focusing on problems and presenting emotions, and positive reinterpretation. Patients’ childhood traumas, their relations with parents, educational level, number of siblings, anxiety level and aggression levels were assessed to determine the factors affecting the highest scores of the patient group in focusing on problems and presenting emotions, and educational level was found to be the most significant factor (p<0.05, r=-324).
Conclusion: Adjustment is an entity associated with mature management capabilities of the affected patient as well as with stressors. That is the reason for different reactions of patients to the environment in identical conditions.