What disorder is characterized by emotional or behavioral responses to a stressful event within 3 months of the onset?

Adjustment disorder is specifically characterized by the development of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressful event or significant life change occurring within three months of that event. This disorder can manifest in a variety of ways, such as anxiety, depressed mood, or behavioral issues, and it typically resolves once the individual starts to adjust to the stressor or once the stressor is removed. The time frame of three months is a crucial criterion that helps distinguish adjustment disorder from other mental health conditions.

The other choices do not fit this definition as clearly. Bereavement refers to the period of mourning after a loss and is not limited to a three-month duration nor does it encompass a specific range of emotional or behavioral responses based on stress. A grief reaction typically encompasses the specific feelings and responses associated with loss, again without a defined three-month time frame. A personality disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, leading to distress or impairment, typically present from adolescence or early adulthood and not resulting from a specific stressful event.