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A category 2 stressor

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Last amended 
9 June 2015

Adjustment disorder - A category 2 stressor Factor

RMA definition

"A category 2 stressor" means one or more of the following negative life events, the effects of which are chronic in nature and cause the person to feel ongoing distress, concern or worry [emphasis added]:

  • being socially isolated and unable to maintain friendships or family relationships, due to physical location, language barriers, disability, or medical or psychiatric illness;
  • experiencing a problem with a long-term relationship including: the break-up of a close personal relationship, the need for marital or relationship counselling, marital separation, or divorce;
  • having concerns in the work or school environment including: on-going disharmony with fellow work or school colleagues, perceived lack of social support within the work or school environment, perceived lack of control over tasks performed and stressful work loads, or experiencing bullying in the workplace or school environment;
  • experiencing serious legal issues including: being detained or held in custody, on-going involvement with the police concerning violations of the law, or court appearances associated with personal legal problems;
  • having severe financial hardship including: loss of employment, long periods of unemployment, foreclosure on a property, or bankruptcy;
  • having a family member or significant other experience a major deterioration in their health; or
  • being a full-time caregiver to a family member or significant other with a severe physical, mental or developmental disability.

Last reviewed for CCPS 15 October 2008.

Preliminary questions [40205]

40226 there is some evidence that a category 2 stressor may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

37395 the veteran has experienced a category 2 stressor at some time.

40227  the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 2 stressor and VEA service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

40228   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 2 stressor and operational service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

or

40229   the veteran has established the causal connection between the category 2 stressor and eligible service for the clinical onset of adjustment disorder.

Clinical onset and operational service [40228]

37406 on operational service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor.

37408 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor.

40231 as a causal result of operational service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40233 the category 2 stressor that the veteran experienced within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37420 the veteran experienced the category 2 stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

40235 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37425  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor, is causally related to operational service.

Clinical onset and eligible service [40229]

37407 on eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor.

37409 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor.

40232 as a causal result of eligible service, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

40234 the category 2 stressor that the veteran experienced within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

or

37420 the veteran experienced the category 2 stressor because of an illness or injury which is identifiable.

40235 as a consequence of the identified illness or injury, the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor within the three months before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

37426  the identified illness or injury, as a consequence of which the veteran experienced a category 2 stressor, is causally related to eligible service.