It’s common for people with an anxiety disorder to also have a co-occurring mental health disorder or physical health condition. This is referred to as a co-occurring disorder.
Research shows that among people with GAD, more than 90 percent have another psychiatric diagnosis. Major depressive disorder is the most common, 48 percent of patients are also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. If someone has co-occurring disorders, all disorders need to be effectively treated. Otherwise, the symptoms of anxiety can be more severe because of the co-occurring disorder component.
Some disorders that most frequently occur in addition to generalized anxiety or other anxiety disorders, not including depression, are:
- Headaches
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Sleep disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Other anxiety disorders
