order can only occur between 3 days and 1 month of exposure to the stressor, and PTSD
cannot be diagnosed until at least 1 month has passed since the occurrence of the traumatic
stressor. The required symptom profile for PT SD and acute stress disorder differentiates
them from the adjustment disorders. With re gard to symptom profiles, an adjustment dis-
order may be diagnosed following a traumatic event when an individu al exhibits symptoms
of either acute stress disorder or PTSD that do not meet or exceed the diagnostic threshold
for either disorder. An adjustment disorder should also be diagno sed for individuals who
have not been exposed to a tr aumatic event but who otherwise exhibit the full symptom pro-
file of either acute st ress disorder or PTSD.
Personality disorders. With regard to personality disorders, some personality features
may be associated with a vulnerability to situat ional distress that may resemble an adjust-
ment disorder. The lifetime hist ory of personality functionin g will help inform the in-
terpretation of distressed behaviors to aid in  distinguishing a long-standing personality
disorder from an adjustment d isorder. In addition to some personality disorders incurring
vulnerability to distress, stre ssors may also exacerbate pers onality disorder symptoms. In
the presence of a personality disorder, if the symptom criteria for an adjustment disorder
are met, and the stress-related disturbance exceeds what may be attributable to maladap-
tive personality disorder symptoms (i.e., Crit erion C is met), then the diagnosis of an ad-
justment disorder should be made.