A social casework report of adolescent adjustment disorder with borderline intelligence

Adjustment disorder (AD) is common in adolescents but very few treatment studies exist. This study reports the use of behavioural model of ‘social casework’ for an adolescent girl with AD. It describes how an adolescent girl with borderline intelligence might react to different types of demand that is imposed on her and highlights how the demands might be the possible sources of maladjustment. It demonstrates how helping people in transition require an identification of the source, or combination of sources, that have led to the adjustment problem first, followed by the implementation of an adequate helping approach. Social casework based on behaviour modification approach which included family psychoeducation, anger management techniques, social skills, and supportive work with the family members, consisted of a thirteen sessions intervention with telephonic follow-up. This resulted in parent and self-reported improvements in the client’s social interaction and adjustment. Family’s understanding about the illness and acceptance of the client also improved.