The common feature of these conditions/disorders is that exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is a critical part of the diagnosis. Psychological distress following exposure to a traumatic or stress event varies widely amongst individuals. Some individuals will exhibit anxiety or fear based symptoms, others will shut down or disconnect, and still others may express anger or aggression. It is also common for some individuals to experience a combination of these symptoms.

Acute Stress Disorder is prevalent directly after a traumatic event. To be diagnosed, one must have symptoms that persist from three days to one month. The disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and cannot be attributable to the effects of a substance such as medication or alcohol or another medical condition.

Note: Symptoms typically begin immediately after the trauma but persistence for at least 3 days and up to a month is needed to meet the criteria for Acute Stress Disorder.

Adjustment Disorders can develop as emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor (event, activity) occurring within three months of the onset of the stressor. (Once the stressor or its consequences have ended, the symptoms do not continue for more than six months.)

PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) is a condition that may develop after you have been experienced a traumatic event like an assault, a disaster, an accident, or combat. PTSD often co-occurs with other conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and traumatic brain injury. After the traumatic event, you may feel afraid and nervous. You may have upsetting thoughts, memories, or nightmares of the event. You may feel numb or cut off from other people or easily agitated. You may also avoid things that remind you of the event. These symptoms can disrupt your life, making it hard to continue with your daily activities, and even change/shape your view of the world. If these feelings or experiences do not go away over time or they get worse, you may be diagnosed with PTSD.

Generalized anxiety disorder presents as chronic, constant and often unsubstantiated worry. Unlike "typical" worrying, individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder ("GAD") have excessive anxiety and worry that causes significant distress and impairment in social occupational, or other important areas of life. They often find concerns overwhelming and their worries have a longer duration than those with non-pathological anxiety. Their concerns are constant and cover a range of life circumstances (e.g., finances, children's safety, job performance, etc.). Additionally, these persistent worries are more likely to be accompanied by physical symptoms including muscle tension, irritability, fatigue, edginess/restlessness, sleep difficulties. Many individuals with GAD report that they have felt anxious and nervous all of their lives.

Note: It is critical to note that many of the symptoms of GAD overlap with depression, complicating the diagnosis of either disorder.

Panic Disorder refers to recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or intense discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. These attacks are recurrent and unanticipated by the patient. The attack can occur during a time of anxiety but can also begin during a calm state, such as while relaxing, sleeping or while engaging in an enjoyable activity. Panic disorder can cause a variety of interpersonal and occupational problems. Individuals with recurrent panic may avoid social situations or going out in public altogether in an effort to avoid a potentially embarrassing attack. This can lead to withdrawal from friends and family, avoiding all physical exertion, and generally restricting daily life including absence from work and school.

This category applies to individuals who present with symptoms that are typical of an anxiety disorder and those symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (family, work, school, etc.) but do not meet all the criteria listed in the other anxiety disorders diagnosis descriptions. This diagnosis may be applied in situations where the clinician chooses not to specify the reasons that criteria are not met for a specific anxiety disorder, including situations where there is not sufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis, for example, in an emergency room setting.

Persistent Depressive Disorder is diagnosed as being in a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least two years (one year for children and adolescents). The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Additionally, there has never been a manic episode and/or symptoms are not better explained by the physiological effects of a substance, other medical condition, or other mental health conditions (e.g., schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, schizophrenia, etc.).

Major Depressive Disorder occurs when symptoms (outlined below) have been present during a two-week period and represent a change from previous functioning. At least one of these symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. These symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Additionally, there has never been a manic episode and/or symptoms are not better explained by the physiological effects of a substance, other medical condition, or other mental health conditions (e.g., schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, schizophrenia, etc.).

Note: Responses to a significant loss, such as bereavement, may include feelings of intense sadness, rumination, insomnia, poor appetite, etc. In distinguishing grief from Major Depressive Disorder ("MDE"), one should consider the primary focus of grief is feelings of emptiness and loss whereas with MDE, it is depressed mood and inability to anticipate happiness or pleasure. In grief, self-esteem is generally preserved whereas in MDE feelings of worthlessness are common. If a bereaved person thinks about death and dying, they generally focus on the deceased and "joining them" vs. in MDE the focus is on feeling worthless, being unable to cope with symptoms of depression, etc.

This diagnosis may be assigned to an individual with symptoms characteristic of a depressive disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but they do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the depressive disorders diagnostic class (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymia, etc.).

The unspecified depressive disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that the criteria are not met for a specific depressive disorder, and includes presentations for which there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings).

Substance Use Disorder(s) that develop after a traumatic event often coexist with other disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder or depression. Individuals may "self-medicate" to cope with the emotional impact of the event(s) and resulting symptoms. A traumatic event can also amplify prior substance use, creating the risk of abuse and dependence. The diagnosis of a substance use disorder is based on a pathological pattern of behaviors related to the use of the substance. An important characteristic of substance use disorders is an underlying change in brain circuits that may persist beyond detoxification, particularly in individuals with severe disorder. This can manifest itself in intense craving when exposed to the substance and in repeated relapses.