adjustment disorder

n. An unusually strong reaction to a specific external source of stress that impairs functioning in one or more areas of life in a usually normal person. Symptoms can include almost any emotional and behavioral ones that affect personal, social, marital, or vocational functioning as long as they arise as a reaction to a specific source of stress and endure less than 6 months longer than the stressor itself, which may persist for any length of time. This is one of the most commonly used diagnostic categories in the DSM-IV-TR as it encompasses a wide variety of symptoms, bears little social stigma, and can be used to obtain insurance payments for psychotherapy.