Prevalence, recognition, and treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety

The management of depression is often complicated by comorbid psychiatric illness. Incomplete diagnoses or inadequate treatment can severely limit a patient's improvement. However, careful diagnosis and straightforward treatment can relieve suffering and restore function. This article will examine recent research investigating the coexistence of depression with a number of different anxiety disorders and review literature on the prevalence and recognition of depression with comorbid anxiety disorders. Finally, current data on treatment will be discussed, with a focus on optimal treatment approaches and duration of treatment.