Lifetime comorbidity among anxiety disorders and between anxiety disorders and other mental disorders in adolescents

J Anxiety Disord. 1997 Jul-Aug;11(4):377-94. doi: 10.1016/s0887-6185(97)00017-0.

Abstract

We examine the lifetime comorbidity among anxiety disorders, and between anxiety disorders and other mental disorders, in a large (n = 1,507) community sample of high school students on whom extensive diagnostic data were available. Three diagnostic groups were formed: those with a lifetime anxiety disorder (n = 134); those with a nonanxiety disorder (n = 510); and those who had never met criteria for a mental disorder (n = 863). The intra-anxiety comorbidity rate was relatively low (18.7%), and was strongly associated with being female (92%). The lifetime comorbidity between anxiety and other mental disorders (primarily MDD) was substantial (73.1%) and was not associated with being female.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Oregon / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data