Adjustment disorder with anxiety. Assessment, treatment and follow up: a case report

Abstract

This case report describes the evaluation process and therapeutic intervention of a 19 year-old woman with adjustment disorder. The change of city of residence and transition from high school to university generated high levels of anxiety, especially when under social and evaluative situations. The treatment was structured in 12 weekly sessions. The therapy was focused on thought observation training, modification of anxious anticipations and elimination of attention and interpretive biases, by means of cognitive restructuring. Physiological deactivation techniques (progressive relaxation training, abdominal breathing, imagination and suggestion of relaxing situations), problem solving strategies and exposure techniques (imaginary and real) were put into practice in order to help the patient cope with the anxiety generating situations that were being avoided. At post treatment we observed a clear improvement, including a decrease in physiological activation, absence of avoidance behaviour and a significant decrease in the number of anxious anticipations. Pre and post treatment data are presented, as well as the 3 and 6 months follow-up results. The effectiveness of the intervention is analyzed and discussed