Current RMA Instruments:
| 58 of 2025 | |
| Balance of Probabilities SOP | 59 of 2025 |
Changes from previous Instruments:
ICD Coding:
- ICD-10-AM: F43.2
Brief description
Adjustment disorder is a condition involving the development of emotional and behavioural symptoms in response to an identifiable one-off, recurrent or ongoing stressor(s), and which meets the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria. Part of the criteria is that the adjustment disorder must occur within 3 months of the onset of the stressor(s) and once the stressor or its consequences have terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional 6 months.
Confirming the diagnosis
This diagnosis needs to be established by a psychiatrist.
Additional diagnoses covered by the SOP
- Nil
Conditions not covered by the SOP
- Acute Stress Disorder *
- Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition *
- Depressive disorder due to another medical condition *
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder *
- Normal bereavement/Grief
* another SOP applies
Clinical onset
Clinical onset must be within 3 months of the occurrence of the relevant stressor(s).
Clinical worsening
The only SoP worsening factor is for inability to obtain appropriate clinical management. Given the nature of the condition, permanent worsening beyond the normal course is unlikely. Specialist psychiatrist opinion would be required to establish that such worsening had occurred.