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Primary Diagnosis: Adjustment Disorder

Diagnostic testing

There are five main listed points that fall under the Adjustment Disorder diagnosis. The first criteria is the progression of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressor occurring within a few months of the beginning of the stressor, (O’Donnell et al., 2019). Olivia had just moved away from home 3 months ago and is trying to adjust to her new college life.

Unfortunately, it is not going well in her favor. The second criteria is that these symptoms are significant, as shown by at least one of the following: marked unproportionally distress to the severity of intensity of the stressor, or serious deterioration in social, occupational or other significant areas of functioning, (O’Donnell et al., 2019). Olivia may not have a complete disproportionate response to her stressor, but it is significantly impairing her school life, sleep habits, and social life. She feels like she does not belong, does not have any friends, and her

academia work is not ideal................... Continue

  Medications

Initially, I would not put Olivia on medications because her PHQ-9

score was mild, and so was her GAD-7 score. She scored a 7 on her

PHQ-9 questionnaire which indicates mild depression and does not

warrant for medications, and she scored a 5 on her GAD-7 which

indicates mild anxiety and also does not warrant for

medications.................. Continue

Interventions

Interventions such as developing better study habits, utilizing

professor’s office hours, practicing better sleep hygiene, and

developing social support could help Olivia cope with her life

stressors. According to studies that also compare adjustment disorder

to PTSD, it is predicted that psychological treatments are better suited

to treat patients and have a successful outcome, (Lal, R., &

Mackinnon, D. F., 2017)................... Continue