Pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder: A review

Adjustment disorder has been reconceptualized as a trauma- and stressor-related condition, and there is a growing understanding of the psychobiology of stress responses. Against this context it is timely to review of the pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder.

A comprehensive electronic database (Pubmed) was searched for randomised controlled trials of the pharmacotherapy of adjustment disorder. Data from each trial were extracted and collated.

To date there have been relatively few controlled trials in this area. Comparator trials provide limited support for a number of antidepressant agents, and a series of studies indicate that etifoxine is superior to buspirone and benzodiazepines for adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The work done has been useful insofar as it provides clinicians with some insights into the advantages and disadvantages of a number of pharmacotherapy options. Additional rigorously designed trials are needed to further advance the field.