[Adjustment disorders--nosological state and treatment options]

To provide an overview of empirical findings with regard to adjustment disorders.

Literature was identified by searches in Medline and Cochrane Database of Systematic reviews.

Adjustment disorder is a common diagnosis in clinical samples (5% to 24%). There is a high frequency of comorbid somatic and mental disorders, especially of personality disorders (15% to 73%). The diagnostic stability of adjustment disorders in the long-term courses seems to be low. It is unclear to what extent adjustment disorders can be differentiated from affective or anxiety disorders with regard to psychopathological symptoms and course. With respect to treatment, as yet only a small empirical database exists.

A psychopathological revision of the current nosological concept of adjustment disorders should be taken into consideration. Such a revision could lead either to an extension or to a narrowing of the diagnostic group "adjustment disorders".