Anxious Depression

Depression and anxiety often coexist. When they co-occur, both anxiety and depression appear tobe more severe. Increased morbidity, poorer acute and long-term outcome, increased suicide risk, andincreased treatment resistance are associated with comorbid anxiety and depression. The term anxiousdepression has taken on newer meaning with the changes in the diagnostic system that allow for concurrentdiagnosis of anxiety disorders and major depression. Attention to the subtype of both anxietyand depression could have significant effects on treatment choice by the clinician. The authors reviewsome historical aspects of anxious depression and also highlight some of the advances in differentialdiagnosis and treatment of coexisting depression and anxiety.