Symptoms and behaviour
Adjustment disorder is generally regarded as a ‘mild’ condition, although the evidence for a distinction based on severity is ambiguous. One study in a general population sample (Casey 2006) failed to nd any distinction in symptom severity or in social functioning between depressive episode and adjustment disorder with depression subtype. On the other hand, a recent study (Fernández 2012) identi ed some differences, notably better quality of life, in patients with adjustment disorder (depressed or anxious subtypes) compared with those diagnosed with major depression or generalised anxiety.