No, adjustment disorders are different than depression or other serious mental illnesses. They are often an emotional responses to a stressful event. They will begin to go away and subside when the stressor is removed – although often not immediately. Adjustment disorders are most common among adolescents and common precipitating stressors are school problems, parental rejection divorce, and substance abuse. Among adults, common precipitating stressors are marital problems, divorce, moving to a new environment, and financial problems.