Question:
What Characteristics of Primary Anxiety Disorders Predict Subsequent Major
Depressive Disorder?
Answer:
Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders oftentimes appear as comorbid
conditions. Typically, anxiety disorders have an earlier age of onset than
depressive disorders, and studies have indicated that primary anxiety
disorders may increase the risk of developing a subsequent depressive
disorder. The researchers of the current study attempted to explore the risks of
having a specific anxiety disorder and then developing a subsequent
depressive disorder. They also attempted to study which characteristics of
anxiety disorders might predict the future onset of a depressive episode. They examined 2548 adolescents and young adults between the ages of 14-24
years of age at baseline. Interviews were conducted on each of these
subjects, with assessments being done with the Munich-Composite
International Diagnostic Interview to garner diagnostic information. This
was a 4-year, prospective, longitudinal community study with a baseline
evaluation and 2 subsequent follow-up interviews conducted. Specific phobia, social phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety
disorder, and agoraphobia were the anxiety disorders analyzed. Specific
characteristics of anxiety disorders that were examined included the number
of comorbid anxiety disorders, severity of functional impairment, and the
presence of panic attacks. Just my own observation maybe. It would seem that anyone suffering from
one of the anxiety disorders that would have a marked effect one's
level of function would have reason to be depressed, - add the money
spent on "guarenteed" treatments, family/friends that don't understand,
ect., ect., and you "may" have reason to be depressed, - or just maybe
be at least a little pist-off.
anxiety is also comorbid with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and
major psychosis as well as all catagories of personality disorders and
numerous axis 2 conditions-the same can be said about depression they cannot be catogorically assessed this way-depression is now seen
in young children-it is manifested by differing symptoms then those in
adults due to the inability to express emotions similarly-we are
getting better at detecting pediatric depression-anxiety may also
start as a primary condition in peds or as comorbid with others-the
hallmark for a full blown problem for both is in young adulthood-there
are many physiological reasons for this including growth shifts in
several brain regions, reactions to brain hormones etc.
and studies have indicated that primary anxiety
