Diagnostic Criteria for Adjustment Disorders

It is always wise to consult a Michigan personal injury lawyer familiar with how psychiatric injuries can manifest themselves.

A. Psychiatric injuries are often diagnosed as adjustment disorders when the development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor(s) occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressor(s).
B. These symptoms or behaviors are clinically significant as evidenced by either of the following:

1. marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected from exposure to the stressor
2. significant impairment in social or occupational (academic) functioning

C. Psychiatric injuries are often diagnosed as adjustment disorders when the stress-related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another specific Axis I disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a preexisting Axis I or Axis II disorder.
D. Psychiatric injuries are often diagnosed as adjustment disorders when the symptoms do not represent Bereavement.
E. Psychiatric injuries are often diagnosed as adjustment disorders when the stressor (or its consequences) has terminated, and the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional 6 months.

Specify if:
Acute - if the disturbance (psychiatric injury) lasts less than 6 months
Chronic - if the disturbance (psychiatric injury) lasts for 6 months or longer

Adjustment Disorders (psychiatric injuries) are coded based on the subtype, which is selected according to the predominant symptoms.

309.0 With Depressed Mood
309.24 With Anxiety
309.28 With Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
309.3 With Disturbance of Conduct
309.4 With Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct
309.9 Unspecified

Psychiatric Injuries | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Acute Stress Disorder | Adjustment Disorders | Major Depressive Episode