TRANSIENT SITUATIONAL DISTURBANCE Pre 1968 (DSM II) definition Medicalisation of distress in a litigious climate
A CONCEPTUAL MODEL Stressor Application of existing coping repertoire Crisis Adaptation / increased resilience Ineffective / inadequate response Adjustment Disorder Mediating factors
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES ‘Normal’ vs ‘abnormal’ reactions Resilience vs ‘eggshell’ Veracity of the account and fabricating symptoms for secondary gain
BORDER DISPUTES Normal adaptive reaction Overlap with other disorders
USEFULNESS? The ‘wastebasket’ diagnosis Can assist in determining which disorders require further treatment