Essential Information for Patient and Family

• Stress often has mental and physical effects
• Stress-related symptoms usually last only a few days or weeks.

Specific Counselling to Patient and Family

• Acknowledge the significance of the stressful event.

Reinforce positive steps the patient has taken to deal with it.

• Identify any steps patient can take to modify situation that produced the stress: if situation cannot be changed discuss problem-solving strategies
• Short-term rest and relief from stress may be helpful.
• Encourage return to usual activities within a few weeks.

Medication

• Most acute stress reactions will resolve without use of medication. However if severe anxiety symptoms occur, use anti-anxiety drugs for up to 3 nights (e.g.diazepam 5-10mg up to three times per day for a few days)
• If the patient has severe insomnia, use diazepam for up to three days (e.g., diazepam each night)

Specialist Consultation

Consider consultation if significant symptoms last more than one month despite the above measures.

What a doctor might say to a person with an adjustment disorder