ficulties and marital problems). Stressors may be recurrent (e.g., associated with seasonal business crises) or continuous (e.g., living in a crime-ridden neighborhood). Stressors may affect a single individual, an entire family, or a larger group or community (e.g., as in a natural disaster). Some stressors may accompany specific developmental events (e.g., going to school, leaving the parental home, getting married, becoming a parent, failing to attain occupational goals, retirement). The symptoms must develop within 3 months after the onset of the stressors . . . and must resolve within 6 months of the termination of the stressor (p.623).Research studies support the DSM-IV information on some of the causes of Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood (Snyder, Strain, & Wolf, 1990; Roden & Voshart, 1986). Roden and Voshart (1986) stated in their study "Adjustment Disorders . . . are maladaptive reactions to an identifiable psychosocial stressor occurring within 3 months after the onset of the stressor. Physical illness is a common precipitant of an Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood" (p.700).The DSM-IV provides clinicians with a wealth of information on Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood. It describes the causes as psychosocial stressors, and the parameters they must meet. It also describes the affect as "the predominant manifestation of symptoms such as depressed mood, tearfulness or feelings of hopelessness" (p.623). Once clinicians have decided a client meets the criteria for the diagnosis, they only need to identify the best treatment approach.Treatment approaches: effective methodsAaron T. Beck (cited in Corsini & Wedding, 1989) developed cognitive therapy during his research of depression. He defined three fundamental concepts in cognitive therapy; collaborative empiricism, socratic dialogue and guided discovery. These fundamental concepts have proven to be successful for Beck, in his treatment of depressi...
