Anxiety Comorbidities: Mood Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Chronic Medical Illness

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and are associated with significant negative consequences. Importantly, a large proportion of individuals with anxiety disorders also meet criteria for other disorders. Specifically, a large body of work suggests that anxiety is often comorbid with mood and substance use disorders, as well as physical health conditions, including chronic pain. These comorbidities contribute to overall disease burden and are associated with greater overall severity of each disorder compared to individuals with only one disorder, and these individuals also exhibit poor treatment outcomes. Therefore, there is clinical utility in understanding the relationships between anxiety and its comorbidities. The following chapter reviews existing research examining the relationship between anxiety and mood disorders, substance use disorders, and chronic pain. Each section provides a comprehensive review of existing research on the etiology and treatment of these comorbidities, as well as provides a framework for future directions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)