Posttraumatic stress disorder vs Acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder
How to tell Posttraumatic stress disorder and Acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder apart when a board question makes them look alike.
Trauma syndrome over 1 month is PTSD; trauma syndrome 3 days to 1 month is acute stress disorder; subthreshold stress reaction is adjustment disorder.
Side by side
PTSD follows qualifying trauma and lasts more than 1 month with intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, and hyperarousal symptoms.
Acute stress disorder has trauma symptoms from 3 days to 1 month; adjustment disorder has stressor-linked distress without a qualifying trauma syndrome or another full disorder.
PTSD is persistent trauma-response dysregulation after actual/threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
Acute stress disorder is the early trauma syndrome; adjustment disorder is a maladaptive response to a stressor that does not meet criteria for PTSD, ASD, MDD, or another disorder.
Nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, guilt, emotional numbing, irritability, exaggerated startle, and hypervigilance lasting beyond 1 month support PTSD.
Symptoms within 3 days to 1 month after trauma support acute stress disorder; nontraumatic stressor with subthreshold distress supports adjustment disorder.
The trap
Adjustment disorder can follow stress, but it should not be used when the full trauma-symptom cluster meets PTSD or acute stress disorder criteria.
The repair move
For stress reactions, first ask whether the event qualifies as trauma, then time the symptom duration and threshold.
Try a free question
CoreSix months after surviving a shooting, a patient has nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance, detachment, guilt, hypervigilance, irritability, and exaggerated startle. Which diagnosis is most likely?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Posttraumatic stress disorder. A qualifying trauma followed by intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, and arousal symptoms for more than 1 month supports PTSD.
Why the other choices are tempting
- B. Acute stress disorder lasts 3 days to 1 month after trauma.
- C. Adjustment disorder does not meet full PTSD criteria.
- D. GAD is chronic multi-domain worry, not trauma re-experiencing.
- E. Panic disorder is recurrent unexpected panic attacks.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
What duration separates PTSD from acute stress disorder?
PTSD lasts more than 1 month; acute stress disorder lasts 3 days to 1 month after trauma.
What event type is required for PTSD?
Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence is required.
Quick answers
What is the fastest way to tell Posttraumatic stress disorder from Acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder?
Trauma syndrome over 1 month is PTSD; trauma syndrome 3 days to 1 month is acute stress disorder; subthreshold stress reaction is adjustment disorder.
What is the key clue for Posttraumatic stress disorder?
PTSD follows qualifying trauma and lasts more than 1 month with intrusion, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, and hyperarousal symptoms.
What is the key clue for Acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder?
Acute stress disorder has trauma symptoms from 3 days to 1 month; adjustment disorder has stressor-linked distress without a qualifying trauma syndrome or another full disorder.
What is the common trap with Posttraumatic stress disorder vs Acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder?
Adjustment disorder can follow stress, but it should not be used when the full trauma-symptom cluster meets PTSD or acute stress disorder criteria.