Treatments for adjustment disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Kiriana P. Cowansage; Tiffany Milligan; Maria A. Morgan; Courtney Boyd; Dawn M. Bellanti; Reshmi Nair; Lisa M. Shank; Derek Smolenski; Daniel P. Evatt; Marija S. Kelber

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116739

Treatments for adjustment disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Kiriana P. Cowansage, Tiffany Milligan, Maria A. Morgan, Courtney Boyd, Dawn M. Bellanti, Reshmi Nair, Lisa M. Shank, Derek Smolenski, Daniel P. Evatt, Marija S. Kelber^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical & Clinical Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adjustment disorder (AD) is a commonly diagnosed mental health condition in military service members and civilians that can significantly impair functioning and that sometimes precedes the diagnosis of more severe psychiatric disorders; however, there is currently a lack of consensus on the most effective methods of treatment. Here, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials that investigate interventions for AD. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, and included 16 RCTs with a total of 3027 participants. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that both internet-based and in-person methods of cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective for treating symptoms of this disorder. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if other treatment strategies are similarly effective.

Original language	English
Article number	116739
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	353
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116739
State	Published - Nov 2025

Keywords

Adjustment disorder
CBT
Meta-analysis
RCT
Systematic review
Treatments

Access to Document

10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116739

Cite this

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title = "Treatments for adjustment disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials",

abstract = "Adjustment disorder (AD) is a commonly diagnosed mental health condition in military service members and civilians that can significantly impair functioning and that sometimes precedes the diagnosis of more severe psychiatric disorders; however, there is currently a lack of consensus on the most effective methods of treatment. Here, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials that investigate interventions for AD. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, and included 16 RCTs with a total of 3027 participants. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that both internet-based and in-person methods of cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective for treating symptoms of this disorder. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if other treatment strategies are similarly effective.",

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author = "Cowansage, {Kiriana P.} and Tiffany Milligan and Morgan, {Maria A.} and Courtney Boyd and Bellanti, {Dawn M.} and Reshmi Nair and Shank, {Lisa M.} and Derek Smolenski and Evatt, {Daniel P.} and Kelber, {Marija S.}",

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year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116739",

language = "English",

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journal = "Psychiatry Research",

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AU - Cowansage, Kiriana P.

AU - Milligan, Tiffany

AU - Morgan, Maria A.

AU - Boyd, Courtney

AU - Bellanti, Dawn M.

AU - Nair, Reshmi

AU - Shank, Lisa M.

AU - Smolenski, Derek

AU - Evatt, Daniel P.

AU - Kelber, Marija S.

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AB - Adjustment disorder (AD) is a commonly diagnosed mental health condition in military service members and civilians that can significantly impair functioning and that sometimes precedes the diagnosis of more severe psychiatric disorders; however, there is currently a lack of consensus on the most effective methods of treatment. Here, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials that investigate interventions for AD. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, and included 16 RCTs with a total of 3027 participants. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that both internet-based and in-person methods of cognitive behavioral therapy may be effective for treating symptoms of this disorder. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to determine if other treatment strategies are similarly effective.

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