Mark's mother passed away unexpectedly. Since her death two months earlier, he has been unable to function at school, has lost interest in participating in extracurricular activities, and becomes easily agitated. Mark may be exhibiting the symptoms of which disorder?

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Mark's symptoms suggest he may be experiencing an adjustment disorder, which occurs when an individual has difficulty coping with a stressor, such as the death of a loved one. The symptoms are similar to those of other stress-related disorders, but adjustment disorder is unique in that the symptoms are typically milder and resolve within six months of the stressor being removed. The other disorders listed, acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, are more severe and are typically associated with traumatic events, such as natural disasters, combat, or violent crime. Bereavement disorder is not a recognized diagnosis in the DSM-5 (the current edition of the diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals), but it describes the normal grief process that occurs after the loss of a loved one.

Mark's Mother Passed Away Unexpectedly