Kavitha Konnakkaparambil Ramakrishnan
BACKGROUND In spite of being one of the commonest diagnoses in clinical practice, very few studies which are exclusively devoted to adjustment disorder have been published. Thus, we decided to study the personality profile, perceived stress and social support among patients diagnosed as having adjustment disorder. The aim of the study is to study the clinical presentations and frequency of adjustment disorder, to assess the personality dimensions, perceived stress and social support in the patients with adjustment disorders and to compare the data with that of an age and sex-matched control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients diagnosed as adjustment disorder were included. M.I.N.I PLUS was the diagnostic tool and data was collected using a semi structured proforma. Perceived Stress scores, Personality profiles and Social Support was assessed and compared with control group. RESULTS Overall 40 patients were included in the study. This constituted 7.5% of total outpatient population. Mean age was 25.7 years. Male: female ratio was 1:1.5. 65.7% of the patients presented with suicide attempts. Compared to controls, cases had a significantly higher perceived stress, neuroticism and psychoticism and lower social support. Males had higher perceived stress and lower social support. There was significant negative correlation between social support and perceived stress. Significant positive correlation was found between the psychoticism and perceived stress. Psychoticism was negatively correlated with social support. CONCLUSION Patients with adjustment disorder have lower social support, higher perceived stress, neuroticism and psychoticism. Suicidal and non-suicidal patients have similar psychosocial profiles.
