Table 1.

Criteria for adjustment disorder with diagnosis algorithm, specified according to the DSM‐IV and adjusted/operationalized for use in the present study

nr	Criteria	DSM‐IV	Adjusted/operationalized
1	Stressor	identifiable stressor(s)	cluster of identifiable stressors in recall period of three years
2	First time limit	occurring within three months of the onset of stressor(s)	symptoms within three months after onset of stressor cluster
3	Distress	clinically significant as evidenced by marked distress that is in excess of what would be expected	4DSQ distress scale scoring > 10
4	Impairment	clinically significant as evidenced by significant impairment in social or occupational (academic) functioning	SDS impairment scale scoring ≥ 4 in at least two domains
5	Second time limit	once the stressor (or its consequences) has terminated, the symptoms do not persist for more than an additional six months	not used
6	DSM‐IV Axis I/II	the stress‐related disturbance does not meet the criteria for another specific Axis I disorder and is not merely an exacerbation of a pre‐existing Axis I or Axis II disorder	not used
7	Bereavement	symptoms do not represent bereavement	symptoms due to bereavement or loss of health due to serious illness/injury as single stressor need to be present for longer than 12 months.
Diagnosis algorithm		1 AND 2 AND (3 OR 4) AND 5 AND 6 AND 7	1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND 7