F43.22
Adjustment disorder with anxiety
Adjustment disorder with anxiety is a psychological response to an identifiable stressor or multiple stressors that results in significant emotional or behavioral symptoms. This condition is characterized by the predominance of anxiety symptoms, such as nervousness, worry, or jitteriness, which develop within three months of the onset of the stressor. For a diagnosis, the distress must be clinically significant—meaning it is either out of proportion to the severity of the stressor or causes significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Unlike chronic anxiety disorders, the symptoms are expected to resolve within six months after the stressor or its consequences have ended.
Clinical Symptoms
- Excessive worry
- Nervousness
- Jitteriness
- Psychomotor agitation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Fear of separation from attachment figures (in children)
- Palpitations or physical signs of tension
- Restlessness
Common Causes
- Relational issues (divorce, breakup, or family conflict)
- Occupational changes (job loss, retirement, or new career)
- Educational transitions or academic failure
- Financial difficulties
- Major health diagnosis or chronic illness
- Relocation to a new environment
- Seasonal or life-stage transitions
Documentation & Coding Tips
Explicitly identify and document the specific psychosocial stressor in the patient's record.
Example: Patient reports onset of acute anxiety symptoms following a sudden job termination on June 15th.
Confirm the timeline of symptoms occurring within three months of the identified stressor.
Example: Documentation shows the patient's nervousness began approximately four weeks after their divorce was finalized.
Differentiate from other anxiety disorders by noting that symptoms are specifically reactive and not a pre-existing chronic condition.
Example: Clinician notes state that the patient has no prior history of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and symptoms are limited to the current crisis period.