• A category of psychiatric disorders which are characterized by emotional or behavioral symptoms that develop within 3 months of a stressor and do not persist for more than an additional 6 months after the stressor is no longer present.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• A condition in which a person responds to a stressful event (such as an illness, job loss, or divorce) with extreme emotions and actions that cause problems at work and home.
  NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• Maladaptive reactions to identifiable psychosocial stressors occurring within a short time after onset of the stressor. They are manifested by either impairment in social or occupational functioning or by symptoms (depression, anxiety, etc.) that are in excess of a normal and expected reaction to the stressor.
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
• Adjustment disorders involve markedly distressing and impairing emotional and/or behavioral symptoms caused by an identifiable stressor.
  Merck Manuals
  Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
• Adjustment disorder is a stress-related, short-term, nonpsychotic disturbance. Persons with this condition are impaired in some element of their general functioning because of their emotional or behavioral response to an identifiable stressful event or change in the person�s life.
  Medscape
  WebMD, 2025
• Adjustment disorders are stress-related conditions. You experience more stress than would normally be expected in response to a stressful or unexpected event, and the stress causes significant problems in your relationships, at work or at school.
  Mayo Clinic
  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2025