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A 28-year-old male presents with depressed mood, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating for 6 weeks. He was laid off from his job 2 months ago and says, "I just can't stop thinking about losing my job." He denies suicidal ideation, anhedonia, guilt, or worthlessness. He is eating and sleeping less but attributes it to stress. He has missed several days of job searching and has been withdrawing from friends. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Explanation
Adjustment disorder is diagnosed when symptoms develop within 3 months of an identifiable stressor, cause significant distress or functional impairment, and do not meet criteria for another mental disorder. The stressor here is job loss, not trauma — ruling out acute stress disorder.
Key Takeaway
Adjustment disorder = symptoms within 3 months of an identifiable stressor + does not meet criteria for another disorder. Job loss is a stressor, not a trauma — do not confuse adjustment disorder with acute stress disorder.