Adjustment Disorder through the Lens of Ayurveda

Export Objective: Adjustment disorder is a stressor-related disorder characterized by a maladaptive response to stressful life events. The prevalence of this disease in general population is estimated to range between 2% and 8%. The disorder can occur at any age but is most frequently diagnosed in adolescents. Women are diagnosed with the disorder twice as often as men, and single women are generally overly represented as at most risk. Among adults, common precipitating factors are academic and career pressure, moving to a new environment, marital problems, and financial problems. Despite its clinical significance, no specific treatment protocols are defined in contemporary medical science, highlighting the need to explore Ayurveda’s understanding and therapeutic approaches for better treatment options. Data Source: Charaka samhita along with its available commentaries, standard textbooks., and peer-reviewed journals related to psychiatry. Review Methods: The literary method involved compilation with a cross-disciplinary focus, including classical texts such as Charaka Samhita, Ashtanga Hrudaya, Sushruta Samhita, Bhela Samhita, and Madhava Nidana, alongside modern references from Textbook of Postgraduate Psychiatry by JN Vyas, Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and various other scholarly articles. Results: Based on the presentations, this disorder can be understood under the contexts of Chittodvega (anxiety), Vishada (depression), and Unmada (insanity) depending on its severity. Conclusion: This article offers a comprehensive understanding of adjustment disorder in Ayurveda, correlating it with conditions such as Chittodvega, Vishada, and Unmada based on the severity of clinical manifestations. It emphasizes the role of Satva in etiology, explores the influence of Manokarma in the pathogenesis of the disorder, and outlines a treatment protocol.