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Clinical focus
Summary
Comorbid depression and anxiety disorders occur in up
to 25% of general practice patients.
Epidemiology
In Australia, the 12-month prevalence of anxiety disorders
is 14.4% and of affective disorders, 6.2%.1 It has been
demonstrated that 39% of individuals with generalised
anxiety disorder (GAD) also meet criteria for depression.2
About 85% of patients with depression also experience
significant symptoms of anxiety, while comorbid
depression occurs in up to 90% of patients with anxiety
disorders.3 Considering anxiety and depression symptoms
together in a mixed anxiety-depressive disorder has
been proposed,4 but it is useful to identify and institute
effective treatment for each set of symptoms. They can
occur in all age groups almost 50% of older adults with
12-month history of GAD met criteria for lifetime major
depressive disorder, while only 7.4% of those without
GAD met these criteria.5 Both anxiety and depression are
associated with substance use disorder,6 and about 7% of
the affected population represent serious cases with high
comorbidity.7
Up to 25% of the patients seen in general practice have
comorbid anxiety and depression.8 Though recognised in
both rural and non-rural primary care, there is often a
treatment gap, with patients undertreated for either or
MJA Open9ISSN: 0025-729X 1 October 2012 1 4 28-32
both MJA
disorders.
with anxiety and/or depression
Open Patients
2012 www.mja.com.au
are particularly likely to present with physical complaints
r a t h Clinical
e r t h a focus
n mental health symptoms,10 and
symptomatology may initially seem vague and nonspecific.
Causal pathways
John W G Tiller
MD, FRACP, FRANZCP,
Emeritus Professor of
Psychiatry
University of Melbourne,
Melbourne, VIC.
tillerj@
ramsayhealth.com.au
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Clinical focus
Treatment
29
Clinical focus
Clear external
cause
Yes
Address medical
and psychosocial issues
Resolved
No
No
Mild to
moderate
severity
Yes
Structured psychological
treatments for
anxiety and depression
Resolved
No
No
Resolved
Treat for
bipolar depression
Yes
No
Treat for
unipolar depression
No
Resolved
No
Clinical focus
in stable condition while taking low doses of these agents,
the evidence is predominantly for their acute short-term
use. Psychological interventions are generally preferable
for sustained outcomes.
Low doses of atypical antipsychotic agents can reduce
anxiety,48 but there is a risk of tardive dyskinesia with longterm use, and metabolic problems are associated with
some of these agents.
Antidepressants are the main options for long-term
pharmacological treatment of anxiety disorders.42 The
choice of antidepressant depends on the prescribing
doctors knowledge of the medicine, a history of prior
successful response to a particular agent by the patient or a
close relative, or specific qualities of a particular medicine.
Conclusions
Comorbid depression and anxiety are common and affect
up to a quarter of patients attending general practice.
Screening for comorbidity is important, as such patients
are at greater risk of substance misuse, have a worse
response to treatment, are more likely to remain disabled,
endure a greater burden of disease, and are more likely to
use health services in general. There are effective
treatments for specific disorders, but a paucity of data
about treatment for anxiety and depression comorbidity.
More than a third of patients with a mental disorder do not
seek treatment, and almost half are offered treatments that
may not be beneficial. This suggests the need for further
public awareness and professional education that can
enhance clinical practice, promoting better mental health
outcomes.
Acknowledgements: I thank Iveta Krivonos, research assistant, for assisting
in the preparation of this article.
Competing interests: I hold an unpaid position on the Board of Directors
of Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd and have received speaker fees and travel
assistance from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck and Pfizer.
Provenance: Commissioned by supplement editors; externally peer reviewed.
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