Comorbidity in generalized anxiety disorder

Rates of comorbidity are high in people with generalized anxiety disorder and depressive disorders. Major depressive disorder and other anxiety disorders most commonly co-occur. Such comorbidity is associated with greater impairment, more treatment seeking and worse outcome among patients with generalized anxiety disorder compared with those without comorbid disorders. The relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder seems especially close, and data from twin studies suggest that these disorders share a genetic diathesis. Patients with generalized anxiety disorder and a coexisting condition respond less well to psychological and pharmacologic treatment.