Treatments for adjustment disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Adjustment disorder (AD) is a commonly diagnosed mental health condition in military service members and civilians that can significantly impair functioning and that sometimes precedes the diagnosis of more severe psychiatric disorders; however, there is currently a lack of consensus on the most effective methods of treatment. Here, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials that investigate interventions for AD. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, and included 16 RCTs with a total of 3027 participants. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that both internet-based and in-person methods of cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective for treating symptoms of this disorder. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if other treatment strategies are similarly effective.