Diagnosis depends on evaluating the relationship between:
a) form, content, and severity of symptoms
b) previous history and personality traits; and
c) "stressful" events, situations, or life crises.
The presence of the third factor above (c) must be clear and solid evidence that the disorder is would not have happened had it not been.
The manifestations of the disorder are varied, and include depressive, anxiety, mixed affect anxiety-depression, behavioral disorders, accompanied by a disability in activities daily routine. None of these symptoms are specific to support diagnosis.
Onset usually occurs within 1 month after the occurrence of a "stressful" event Symptoms usually do not last more than 6 months, except in the case of depressive reactions prolonged