Comorbid Depression: What You Should Know
Depressive disorders are among the most common mental disorders worldwide, and approximately 5% of adults experience major depressive disorder. Depression can significantly affect your emotional well-being and impact your quality of life.
But it's important to consider how overlapping symptoms can impact your mental health, treatment prognosis, and recovery plans.
Here's what you need to know:
Understanding Depression
Depression impacts millions of people every year. It's a complicated condition that negatively affects how you think, react, and experience the world around you.
While most people associate depression with sadness, that's not the only symptom. In addition, many people who have depression don't necessarily relate to feeling sad.
Some of the most common symptoms of depression include:
persistently low mood for most of the day
excessive feelings of guilt or responsibility
irritability and rage
poor sleep quality
changes in appetite
difficulties with focus and concentration
suicidal thoughts or behavior
Major depression exists on a spectrum. Some people only have one episode during their life (with an episode consisting of two weeks of 5+ depressive symptoms). Others experience depression chronically and without significant reprieve.
Understanding Psychiatric Comorbidity
Comorbidity refers to the presence of at least two or more mental disorders occurring simultaneously. Sometimes, the comorbid effect is obvious. But other times, the presence of another comorbid disorder is more covert and harder to discern.
That said, when assessing or treating depression, it's important to consider the possibility of other psychiatric disorders. Research shows that treatment outcomes are best when treatment is comprehensive.
In other words, if you only focus on depression- without taking other symptoms into consideration- you may not experience much symptom improvement.
Comorbid Depression: What Other Psychiatric Disorders Coincide With Mood Disorders?
If you have depression, you may already realize that you experience other symptoms unrelated to depression, like social phobia or fears of abandonment or disordered eating. Or, you might know that you have another condition and also wonder if you have depression.
Here are some of the most common disorders associated with depression:
Anxiety Disorders
Comorbid anxiety and depression are incredibly common. Anxiety disorders refer to generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder, and many of these anxiety symptoms overlap with depression. Both conditions tend to impair one's ability to stay in the present moment, as anxiety is often rooted in future fear, and depression is often rooted in past rumination.
Substance Use Disorders
Research shows that nearly 60% of people with a substance use disorder also have depression.
It’s unclear if one condition causes the other to occur, but both conditions likely exacerbate one another. For example, someone may drink or use drugs more heavily to cope with their depressed mood. This is known as self-medicating, and it can temporarily provide some relief. However, this pleasure is often short-lived. Many people find that their depression worsens with increased substance use (often due to the shame, damage, and emotional toll associated with drugs and alcohol).
Eating Disorders
Between 50-75% of people experiencing an eating disorder also experience depression symptoms. Many times, both conditions occur simultaneously.
In many cases, people cite their depression as one of the initial motives to "start a diet" or dislike their body. This line of thinking doesn't necessarily develop into an eating disorder, but it can cause a chain of events that trigger more severe symptoms.
Personality Disorders
There is a high comorbidity between depression and personality disorders. Researchers theorize that personality disorders may enhance someone's vulnerability to depression. But they also say the opposite path can occur, where severe symptoms of depression may increase the risk of developing a personality disorder.
What Does Treatment For Comorbid Disorders Look Like?
Mental health is undoubtedly complex, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all option for treating depression. That said, mood disorders are treatable, and you can learn how to live a fulfilling life regardless of your conditions.
Here are some of the best practices for treating comorbid depression:
Thorough Assessment
When seeking treatment, it's important to receive a complete evaluation from a mental health professional. During your intake process, you will answer questions about your family history, past and current symptoms, and any diagnoses that you've received before. This assessment helps your therapist establish an appropriate treatment plan.
Crisis Support
When deciding which symptoms to focus on first, therapists will always screen out for potential crisis issues (suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, presence of child abuse). These issues may be more present in people with depression, and they require immediate support.
Comprehensive Coping Skills
Improving mental health isn't inherently diagnosis-specific. Instead, it tends to be far more holistic: your goals might focus on enhancing awareness, improving how you respond to stress, building healthier relationships, resolving trauma, and increasing your self-esteem. These goals can improve treatment outcomes for comorbid conditions.
How We Can Help
Living with comorbid depression can be challenging. But you're certainly not alone in your struggles. It's important to try to be compassionate towards yourself and focus on getting the support you need.
While there aren't cures for mental illness, the right treatment can make all the difference. We are here to listen, guide, and support your recovery. We provide comprehensive treatment that focuses on the whole person- contact us today to get started!