Adjustment Disorder Quiz
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Adjustment Disorder test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Insomnia
Can't sleep
Lack of motivation
Feeling sad
Nervousness
Feeling anxious
Short temper
Psychosocial stressors
Easily distracted
Low mood
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty gathering thoughts
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Adjustment Disorder?
A psychological disorder, often with low mood and anxiety. It is triggered by a sudden change in life circumstances, e.g. divorce or losing a job.
Typical Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder
- Stressed over daily life
- Recent changes in mental state
- Fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning
- Decreased motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Personality change
- Pain at the back of the head
- Tremors of hands and body
Diagnostic Questions for Adjustment Disorder
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you feel stressed or unhappy about going to work or school?
- Recently, are you more confused than before?
- Do you experience fatigue or low energy that is worse in the morning?
- Have you been experiencing decreased motivation recently?
- Do you have difficulty concentrating?
Treatment of Adjustment Disorder
Symptoms improve when the event causing stress is over. Therapy such as counseling and learning stress management strategies is useful. Medication is rarely required.
Reviewed By:
Weston S. Ferrer, MD (Psychiatry)
Weston Ferrer is a physician leader, psychiatrist, and clinical informaticist based in San Francisco. With nearly a decade of experience in academia and more recent immersion in industry, he has made significant contributions to the fields of digital health, health tech, and healthcare innovation. | As an Associate Professor at UCSF, Weston was involved in teaching, leadership, and clinical practice, focusing on the intersection of technology and mental health. He recently led mental health clinical for Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences), where he applied his expertise to develop innovative solutions for mental healthcare using the tools of AI/ML, digital therapeutics, clinical analytics, and more.. | Weston is known for his unique ability to innovate and support product development while bringing pragmatism to technology entrepreneurship. He is a strong advocate for patient-centered care and is committed to leveraging technology to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. |
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 14, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Think you might have
Adjustment Disorder?
Try a symptom check testHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Adjustment Disorder quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Confusion
- Change in mental status
- Can't focus
- Appears dazed
- Feeling less ambitious nowadays
- Doesn't know the time
- Doesn't know where he/she is
- Fewer creative urges nowadays
- Doesn't know who he/she is
- I can not concentrate on my work
- Unable to sit for a long time
- My brain is not functioning
- Less willpower to do things
- Making careless mistakes
- I can't continue one thing
See full list
User Testimonials for Adjustment Disorder
Female, Teens
Ubie helped me with understanding my mental health symptoms and feelings, by providing me with great results. It made me feel less worried and anxious about what else my symptoms could mean. I would definitely use this service in the future and recommend this to a family member, friend or co-worker.
(May 1, 2025)
Symptoms Related to Adjustment Disorder
Diseases Related to Adjustment Disorder
FAQs
Q.
Can’t Name Your Feelings? The Science of Alexithymia & Medical Next Steps
A.
Alexithymia is a well-studied trait where people struggle to identify and put words to feelings, often noticing physical sensations instead; it is not a diagnosis, affects about 10% to varying degrees, and frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, substance use, eating disorders, and chronic illness. Next steps can include seeing a clinician if numbness, anxiety, or unexplained physical symptoms persist, getting evaluated with questionnaires while ruling out medical causes, and using therapies and skills such as CBT, mindfulness, emotion-focused or trauma-informed care, feelings lists, body-sensation tracking, and journaling; there are several factors to consider, and important nuances, safety guidance, and an Adjustment Disorder screen appear below.
References:
* Aaron T. Alexithymia: Recent advances in theory, measurement, and treatment. Depress Anxiety. 2021 Sep;38(9):894-910. doi: 10.1002/da.23190. Epub 2021 May 29. PMID: 34057041.
* Siffrin V, Leppert T, Pöhlchen D, Löffler L, Stiefelhagen L, Zettl A, Diefenbacher A, Dziobek I. Interventions for alexithymia: a systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Apr;147:105128. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105128. Epub 2023 Feb 18. PMID: 36806950.
* Brewer R, Cook R, Bird G. Alexithymia: a transdiagnostic feature of medical disorders. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2016 Jan;110(1):E1-26. doi: 10.1037/pspp0000049. Epub 2015 Sep 21. PMID: 26390161.
* Taylor GJ. Alexithymia and its clinical implications: Where do we stand? Compr Psychiatry. 2018 Oct;86:95-101. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.07.009. Epub 2018 Jul 11. PMID: 30048995.
* Li S, Han C, Jia T, Shu J, Liang J. The neurobiology of alexithymia: A literature review. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Dec;270:860-867. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.012. Epub 2018 Nov 13. PMID: 30453000.
Q.
Exhausted? Why Your Child is Defiant & Medically Approved ODD Next Steps
A.
Exhausted by constant arguing, refusal, and angry outbursts? When defiance is frequent, intense, and lasts at least 6 months across settings, it may be oppositional defiant disorder, a treatable condition that often coexists with ADHD, anxiety, or stress; there are several factors to consider, and you can see below to understand more. Medically approved next steps include starting with your pediatrician for screening and referral, getting a professional evaluation, beginning parent management training as first-line, adding CBT and school supports, considering medication only for coexisting conditions, and seeking immediate care for safety risks, with more details and at-home strategies outlined below.
References:
* Li Y, Sun H, Wang X, Wang Y. Sleep problems and oppositional defiant disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review. J Psychiatr Res. 2021 Jul;139:19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.04.045. Epub 2021 Apr 28. PMID: 34213348.
* Skandola C, Dadds MR. Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A review of interventions. J Pers Med. 2019 Jul 22;9(3):36. doi: 10.3390/jpm9030036. PMID: 31336490.
* Paavonen EJ, Raikkonen E, Sandman N. Sleep disturbances and internalizing/externalizing behaviors in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2020 Dec;54:101344. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101344. Epub 2020 May 13. PMID: 32419409.
* Burke JD, Loeber R, Lahey BB. Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2013 Oct;22(4):753-763. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2013.07.001. Epub 2013 Oct 29. PMID: 26511116.
* Skelton M, Levesque ML, Foulds P, De Foe A. Parent management training for oppositional defiant disorder: A meta-analysis. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2022 Dec;63(12):1426-1440. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13626. Epub 2022 May 4. PMID: 35515234.
Q.
Is it BPD? Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms & Medical Next Steps
A.
BPD is a treatable mental health condition marked by persistent patterns of intense emotions, unstable relationships, rapid mood shifts, impulsive behaviors, and sometimes self-harm, but these symptoms overlap with depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance use, and stress-related disorders, so only a professional evaluation can confirm it. There are several factors to consider for your next steps, from tracking triggers and talking with a clinician to exploring evidence-based care like DBT and knowing when to seek urgent help for self-harm or suicidal thoughts; see below for key symptoms, alternative explanations, and step-by-step guidance that could change what you do next.
References:
* Leichsenring, F., Lieb, K., Yank, M., & Biskup, I. (2022). Borderline personality disorder: a current concept. *Nature Reviews Disease Primers*, *8*(1), 16. doi:10.1038/s41572-022-00346-6
* Chanen, A. M., & McCutcheon, L. (2020). Prevention and early intervention for borderline personality disorder: a review and update. *Current Opinion in Psychiatry*, *33*(1), 108–112. doi:10.1097/YCO.0000000000000562
* Storebø, O. J., Stoffers, J., Völlm, B. A., & Lieb, K. (2019). Pharmacological interventions for borderline personality disorder. *Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*, *5*(5), CD012928. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012928.pub2
* Pfohl, B. (2018). The Many Faces of Borderline Personality Disorder: A Historical and Contemporary Review. *Psychiatric Clinics of North America*, *41*(4), 543–559. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2018.07.001
* Skodol, A. E. (2017). Clinical features of borderline personality disorder. *Psychiatric Clinics of North America*, *40*(2), 167–177. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2017.01.001
Q.
Emotions Like Raw Nerves? The Science of BPD & Medically-Approved Next Steps
A.
BPD can make emotions feel like raw nerves because of real brain differences that heighten threat sensitivity and slow emotional cool down, yet it is a diagnosable condition that often improves with evidence-based care. There are several factors to consider for next steps, including getting a professional evaluation, starting DBT or similar therapies, knowing when medication can help, distinguishing BPD from stress-related conditions like Adjustment Disorder, and recognizing red flags that need urgent care. See the complete, medically approved guidance below to choose the safest and most effective path forward.
References:
* Leichsenring, F., & Kunst, H. (2022). Borderline Personality Disorder: From Pathophysiology to Evidence-Based Treatment. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 20(3), 295–307.
* Leichsenring, F., Leibing, E., & Salzer, S. (2021). Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: An Updated Review. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 19(1), 17–25.
* Ruocco, P. R., & Ambler, C. (2020). The neurobiology of emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 43(4), 589–601.
* Srivastava, A., & Gunderson, J. G. (2020). What Works for Borderline Personality Disorder: An Update on Evidence-Based Treatments. Current Psychiatry Reports, 22(8), 41.
* Silk, K. R. (2018). The role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 41(4), 701–711.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
O'Donnell ML, Agathos JA, Metcalf O, Gibson K, Lau W. Adjustment Disorder: Current Developments and Future Directions. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 16;16(14):2537. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16142537. PMID: 31315203; PMCID: PMC6678970.
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2537Casey P. Adjustment disorder: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. CNS Drugs. 2009 Nov;23(11):927-38. doi: 10.2165/11311000-000000000-00000. PMID: 19845414.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/11311000-000000000-00000Bachem R, Casey P. Adjustment disorder: A diagnosis whose time has come. J Affect Disord. 2018 Feb;227:243-253. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.10.034. Epub 2017 Oct 23. PMID: 29107817.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032717315112?via%3DihubStein DJ. Pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder: A review. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2018;19(sup1):S46-S52. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2018.1492736. PMID: 30204560.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15622975.2018.1492736